isoxylic

Isoxylic is a term that can refer to a few different chemical concepts, primarily related to the arrangement of methyl groups on a benzene ring. In its most common usage, it refers to 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene. This compound is an aromatic hydrocarbon with the chemical formula C9H12. It is one of the three isomers of trimethylbenzene, the others being mesitylene (1,3,5-trimethylbenzene) and hemimellitene (1,2,4-trimethylbenzene). Isoxylic is a colorless liquid with a characteristic aromatic odor. It is flammable and sparingly soluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. It can be found in coal tar and petroleum fractions.

The term "isoxylic" can also be used in a broader sense to describe compounds that are structurally related to isoxylic acid. Isoxylic acid itself is not a commonly encountered compound, but the term might arise in discussions of derivatives or analogous structures. However, when the term is used in organic chemistry, it most frequently points to 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene. Its chemical properties are typical of alkylbenzenes, undergoing electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions. The presence of the three methyl groups influences the reactivity and regioselectivity of these reactions. Applications for 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene are limited, but it can be used as a solvent or as an intermediate in the synthesis of other organic compounds.