Phenylacetone

Phenylacetone
Names
IUPAC name
1-Phenylpropan-2-one
Other names
Benzyl methyl ketone; Methyl benzyl ketone; Phenyl-2-propanone
Identifiers
103-79-7 Yes
ChEBI CHEBI:52052 Yes
ChemSpider 21106366 Yes
Jmol-3D images Image
KEGG C15512 Yes
PubChem 7678
UNII O7IZH10V9Y Yes
Properties
Molecular formula
C9H10O
Molar mass 134.18 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless, pleasant odor
Density 1.006 g/mL
Melting point −15 °C (5 °F; 258 K)
Boiling point 214 °C (417 °F; 487 K)
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
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Infobox references

Phenylacetone is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5CH2C(O)CH3. It is a colorless oil that is soluble in organic solvents. This substance is used in the manufacture of methamphetamine and amphetamine, where it is commonly known as P2P. Due to the illicit uses in clandestine chemistry, it was declared a schedule II controlled substance in the United States in 1980.[1] In humans, phenylacetone occurs as a metabolite of amphetamine via oxidative deamination.

Preparation

It is prepared commercially by ketonization of phenylacetic acid and acetic acid over alumina at 400-500 °C. The aluminum oxide serves as a catalyst for the dehydration and decarboxylation:[2]

C6H5CH2CO2H + CH3CO2H → C6H5CH2C(O)CH3 + CO2 + H2O

Due to its status as a controlled substance, other laboratory scale methods have been reported.[3] It can be produced by the condensation of benzaldehyde with nitroethane, which yields phenyl-2-nitropropene followed by reduction, usually in the presence of acid, to phenylacetone.

A conceptually simple example of phenylacetone organic synthesis is the Friedel-Crafts alkylation of benzene with chloroacetone.

This is, however, typically not used due to overalkylation commonly associated with Friedel-Crafts alkylation.

Applications

Phenyl acetone is used as an intermediate in the production of pesticides and anticoagulants.

Amphetamine metabolism

Metabolic pathways of amphetamine
Graphic of several routes of amphetamine metabolism

Para-
Hydroxylation
Para-
Hydroxylation
Para-
Hydroxylation
Beta-
Hydroxylation
Beta-
Hydroxylation
Oxidative
Deamination
Oxidation
Glycine
Conjugation

See also

References