O-Xylene
Encyclopedia
o-Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon
, based on benzene
with two methyl substituent
s bonded to adjacent carbon atoms in the aromatic ring (the ortho
configuration).
It is a constitutional isomer of m-xylene
and p-xylene
.
o-Xylene is largely used in the production of phthalic anhydride
, and is generally extracted by distillation from a mixed xylene stream in a plant primarily designed for p-xylene production. Its main production is in Buenos Aires
.
Hydrocarbon
In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons from which one hydrogen atom has been removed are functional groups, called hydrocarbyls....
, based on benzene
Benzene
Benzene is an organic chemical compound. It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, with the molecular formula C6H6....
with two methyl substituent
Substituent
In organic chemistry and biochemistry, a substituent is an atom or group of atoms substituted in place of a hydrogen atom on the parent chain of a hydrocarbon...
s bonded to adjacent carbon atoms in the aromatic ring (the ortho
Ortho
Ortho may refer to:In science* An arene substitution pattern in which two substituents occupy adjacent positions on an aromatic ring...
configuration).
It is a constitutional isomer of m-xylene
M-Xylene
m-Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon, based on benzene with two methyl substituents.It is an isomer of o-xylene and p-xylene. The m stands for meta, meaning the two methyl substituents are at locants 1 and 3 on the aromatic ring....
and p-xylene
P-Xylene
p-Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon, based on benzene with two methyl substituents. The “p” stands for para, identifying the location of the methyl groups as across from one another....
.
o-Xylene is largely used in the production of phthalic anhydride
Phthalic anhydride
Phthalic anhydride is the organic compound with the formula C6H42O. It is the anhydride of phthalic acid. This colourless solid is an important industrial chemical, especially for the large-scale production of plasticizers for plastics. In 2002, approximately 4.6 billion kilograms were...
, and is generally extracted by distillation from a mixed xylene stream in a plant primarily designed for p-xylene production. Its main production is in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
.