pentamethylbenzoic

Pentamethylbenzoic acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula C12H16O2. It is a derivative of benzoic acid where five hydrogen atoms on the benzene ring have been replaced by methyl groups. The systematic name for this compound is pentamethylbenzoic acid, and it can also be referred to by its CAS number, which is 1751-53-7. It is a solid at room temperature.

This compound is a carboxylic acid, meaning it contains a carboxyl functional group (-COOH). The presence of five electron-donating methyl groups on the aromatic ring influences its chemical properties, particularly its acidity and reactivity compared to unsubstituted benzoic acid. Pentamethylbenzoic acid is generally less acidic than benzoic acid due to the electron-donating effect of the methyl groups.

Pentamethylbenzoic acid can be synthesized through various organic chemistry methods, often involving the methylation of related aromatic compounds. Its applications are primarily in research and as a building block in organic synthesis. It can be used to introduce the pentamethylbenzoyl group into other molecules. Due to its steric bulk, it is sometimes employed in reactions where controlled reactivity or specific steric environments are desired.