Cyclohexylbenzene

Chemical properties

Colorless oily liquid. Soluble in alcohol, acetone, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, castor oil, hexane and xylene, insoluble in water and glycerol.

The Uses of Cyclohexylbenzene

Cyclohexylbenzene is used as a high boiling point solvent. It finds application as a penetrant used in plastics, painting, and adhesives. It acts as an additive for lithium-ion battery electrolyte to enhance the battery safety. It is used to prepare intermediates such as phenol and cyclohexanone. Further, it is used in the preparation of liquid crystal display (LCD) material intermediate 4-ethyl cyclohexyl benzoic acid.

Preparation

Cyclohexylbenzene is produced by the acid-catalyzed alkylation of benzene with cyclohexene. Under vigorous stirring, the freshly distilled cyclohexene was added dropwise to the mixture of benzene and sulfuric acid, the temperature was kept at 15±5°C, and the addition was completed for about 0.5-1 h. After the addition, the reaction was continued for 1 h. The sulfuric acid layer is separated, the oil layer is washed with water, lye and water in turn, fractionated, firstly, the unreacted benzene is distilled off, then the 230-260 ℃ fraction is collected, and the positive boiling point fraction is collected by fractionation again to obtain the product cyclohexylbenzene.

Synthesis Reference(s)

Tetrahedron, 24, p. 4525, 1968 DOI: 10.1016/S0040-4020(01)96290-8

General Description

These additives have low water content (less than 100 ppm), please handle under inert and moisture free enviornment (glove box). Keep containers tightly closed. Keep away from heat and ignition sources. Store in a cool and dry place. Avoid storing together with oxidizers.

Purification Methods

Purify it by fractional distillation, and by fractional freezing. [Beilstein 5 IV 1424.]