2,5-Dimethoxy-''p''-cymene, or thymohydroquinone dimethyl ether, is a
phytochemical
Phytochemicals are naturally-occurring chemicals present in or extracted from plants. Some phytochemicals are nutrients for the plant, while others are metabolites produced to enhance plant survivability and reproduction.
The fields of ext ...
found in the
essential oil
An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (easily evaporated at normal temperatures) chemical compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the ...
s of plants within the
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
''
Asteraceae
Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchi ...
''. These essential oils, which contain the compound as a major component of the oil, have antifungal,
antibacterial,
and insecticidal
properties.
Natural occurrence
2,5-Dimethoxy-''p''-cymene occurs in a variety of different plants' essential oils. Examples include:
* ''Ayapana triplinervis'' (92.8%)
* ''Apium leptophyllum'' (50.7 to 80.24%)
* ''Cyathocline purpurea'' (57.4%)
* ''Arnica montana'' (32.6%)
* ''Laggera crispata'' (32.2%)
* ''Blumea perrottetiana'' (30.0%)
* ''Eupatorium capillifolium'' (20.8%)
* ''Sphaeranthus indicus'' (18.2%)
* ''Limbarda crithmoides'' (16.4)
* ''Bubonium imbricatum'' (16.2%)
Chemical synthesis
2,5-Dimethoxy-''p''-cymene can be synthesized from carvacrol by aromatic Halogenation#Halogenation of aromatic compounds, halogenation followed by nucleophilic substitution with sodium methoxide and Williamson ether synthesis using methyl iodide.
See also
*Thymoquinone
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dimethoxy-p-cymene, 2,5-
Hydroquinone ethers
Fungicides
Insecticides
Alkyl-substituted benzenes
Isopropyl compounds
Methoxy compounds