4-Chloro-3-methylphenol

CAS No.：59-50-7

EINECS No.：200-431-6

Molecular Formula：C₇H₇ClO

Molecular Weight：142.58

Structural Formula：   
                                 

Standard：

Properties：4-Chloro-3-methylphenol (PCMC) is a white to off-white crystalline powder or needle-like crystal at room temperature, with a faint phenolic pungent odor. Melting point: 64-67℃, Boiling point: 235-236℃ (25℃), Relative density (20℃/4℃): 1.24g/cm3. It is slightly soluble in water (solubility about 0.3g/100mL at 25℃), easily soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol, ether, acetone, benzene, and chloroform, and also soluble in alkaline aqueous solutions, possessing excellent liposolubility and dispersibility.

Applications：4-Chloro-3-methylphenol (abbreviated as PCMC) is a high-efficiency broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent integrating three core functions: preservative, antibacterial agent, and disinfectant. It exerts its effect by damaging microbial cell membranes and inhibiting enzyme activity, demonstrating potent inhibitory and bactericidal effects against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and even yeast. Safe, stable, and highly compliant at conventional concentrations, it has been widely applied in pharmaceuticals, daily chemicals, industry, agriculture, fine chemicals, and other fields, serving as an indispensable core raw material for high-efficiency antibacterial and preservative purposes. Specific application scenarios are as follows:

1. Industrial Field: Multi-scenario Preservative, Fungicide & Antioxidant
   PCMC is extensively used for corrosion and mold prevention across various industrial scenarios: wood preservation (preventing fungal and insect infestation); corrosion prevention of metal-working fluids/coolants (inhibiting microbial deterioration and odor, extending service life); mold prevention of paints, coatings, adhesives, and inks (avoiding film mildew and colloid contamination); as well as mold and antibacterial treatment for concrete additives, building materials, photographic film/paper, textiles, leather, and paper. Additionally, it functions as an antioxidant in the rubber industry, comprehensively safeguarding the storage stability and service life of industrial products.
2. Personal Care & Cosmetics Industry: Safe-grade Preservative & Antibacterial Agent
   As a core preservative and antibacterial component in skincare products (face creams, lotions, baby care products), personal care items (shampoos, body washes, disinfectant soaps, hand sanitizers), and color cosmetics (lipsticks, eyeshadows, foundations), PCMC effectively inhibits microbial growth, prevents product contamination, and extends shelf life. In baby care products, its concentration is strictly controlled within the safe range of 0.1%-0.2%, meeting the preservative needs of various daily chemical products and complying with global cosmetic safety standards.
3. Pharmaceutical Field: Core Component for Antibacterial Preservation & Disinfection
   PCMC serves as a key preservative in pharmaceutical formulations, applicable to liquid preparations such as injections, eye drops, and nasal drops (common concentration: 0.1-0.2%), adapting to the long-term storage requirements of multi-dose medications. It is also suitable for the preservation of oral/injectable veterinary drugs, topical preparations, skin creams, and medicated creams. Furthermore, it acts as a disinfectant for medical devices and surgical instruments, as well as an active ingredient in wound cleaning and anti-infection preparations, disinfectant products, and nasal care vaporization fluids, balancing pharmaceutical-grade safety and antibacterial efficiency.
4. Agriculture & Biotechnology: Pesticide Intermediate & Preservative
   As a high-efficiency pesticide intermediate, PCMC is used in the synthesis of agricultural chemicals such as insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. It is also applicable for mold prevention and fresh-keeping of fruits and vegetables during storage, as well as seed disinfection treatment. It effectively prevents mold infection, improves the storage quality of agricultural products and seed germination rate, and contributes to improving the quality and efficiency of agricultural production.
5. Fine Chemical Field: Key Raw Material for Organic Synthesis
   PCMC is a core raw material for organic synthesis in fine chemicals, utilized in the production of fragrances, dyes, pharmaceutical intermediates, and other organic compounds with antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It provides core support for the R&D and production of fine chemical products, meeting the needs of high-end chemical material manufacturing.