4-Aminophenol (or para-aminophenol or p-aminophenol) is an organic compound with the formula H2NC6H4OH. Typically available as a white powder,[3] it is commonly used as a developer for black-and-white film, marketed under the name Rodinal.

4-Aminophenol
Skeletal formula of 4-aminophenol
Space-filling model of the 4-aminophenol molecule
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
4-Aminophenol[1]
Other names
  • p-Aminophenol
  • para-Aminophenol
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
385836
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.004.198 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 204-616-2
2926
KEGG
MeSH Aminophenols
UNII
UN number 2512
  • InChI=1S/C6H7NO/c7-5-1-3-6(8)4-2-5/h1-4,8H,7H2 checkY
    Key: PLIKAWJENQZMHA-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C6H7NO/c7-5-1-3-6(8)4-2-5/h1-4,8H,7H2
    Key: PLIKAWJENQZMHA-UHFFFAOYAD
  • Oc1ccc(N)cc1
  • c1cc(ccc1N)O
Properties
C6H7NO
Molar mass 109.128 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless to reddish-yellow crystals
Density 1.13 g/cm3
Melting point 187.5 °C (369.5 °F; 460.6 K)
Boiling point 284 °C (543 °F; 557 K)
1.5 g/100 mL
Solubility
log P 0.04
Acidity (pKa)
  • 5.48 (amino; H2O)
  • 10.30 (phenol; H2O)[2]
Structure
orthorhombic
Thermochemistry
-190.6 kJ/mol
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS07: Exclamation markGHS08: Health hazardGHS09: Environmental hazard
Warning
H302, H332, H341, H410
P201, P202, P261, P264, P270, P271, P273, P281, P301+P312, P304+P312, P304+P340, P308+P313, P312, P330, P391, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroformFlammability 1: Must be pre-heated before ignition can occur. Flash point over 93 °C (200 °F). E.g. canola oilInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
2
1
0
Flash point 195 °C (383 °F; 468 K) (cc)
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
671 mg/kg
Related compounds
Related aminophenols
2-Aminophenol
3-Aminophenol
Related compounds
Aniline
Phenol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
checkY verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Reflecting its slightly hydrophilic character, the white powder is moderately soluble in alcohols and can be recrystallized from hot water. In the presence of a base, it oxidizes readily. The methylated derivatives N-methylaminophenol and N,N-dimethylaminophenol are of commercial value.

The compound is one of three isomeric aminophenols, the other two being 2-aminophenol and 3-aminophenol.

Preparation

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From phenol

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It is produced from phenol by nitration followed by reduction with iron. Alternatively, the partial hydrogenation of nitrobenzene affords phenylhydroxylamine, which rearranges primarily to 4-aminophenol (Bamberger rearrangement).[4]

C6H5NO2 + 2 H2 → C6H5NHOH + H2O
C6H5NHOH → HOC6H4NH2

From nitrobenzene

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It can be produced from nitrobenzene by electrolytic conversion to phenylhydroxylamine, which spontaneously rearranges to 4-aminophenol.[5]

From 4-nitrophenol

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4-nitrophenol can be reduced through a variety of methods, to yield 4-aminophenol. One method involves hydrogenation over a Raney Nickel catalyst. A second method involves selective reduction of the nitro group by Tin(II) Chloride in anhydrous ethanol or ethyl ethanoate. [6][7]

Uses

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4-Aminophenol is a building block used in organic chemistry. Prominently, it is the final intermediate in the industrial synthesis of paracetamol. Treating 4-aminophenol with acetic anhydride gives paracetamol:[8][9][10]

 

It is a precursor to amodiaquine, mesalazine, AM404, parapropamol, B-86810 & B-87836 (c.f. WO 2001042204 ).

4-Aminophenol converts readily to the diazonium salt.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry : IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013 (Blue Book). Cambridge: The Royal Society of Chemistry. 2014. p. 690. doi:10.1039/9781849733069-FP001. ISBN 978-0-85404-182-4.
  2. ^ Haynes, William M., ed. (2016). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (97th ed.). CRC Press. pp. 5–89. ISBN 978-1498754286.
  3. ^ CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics 65th Ed.
  4. ^ Mitchell, S.C. & Waring, R.H. "Aminophenols." In Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry; 2002 Wiley-VCH, doi:10.1002/14356007.a02_099
  5. ^ Polat, K.; Aksu, M.L.; Pekel, A.T. (2002), "Electroreduction of nitrobenzene to p-aminophenol using voltammetric and semipilot scale preparative electrolysis techniques", Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 32 (2), Kluwer Academic Publishers: 217–223, doi:10.1023/A:1014725116051, S2CID 54499902
  6. ^ US2998450A, Godfrey, Wilbert & De, Angelis John, "Process of preparing nu-acetyl-p-amino phenol", issued 1961-08-29 
  7. ^ Bellamy, F. D.; Ou, K. (1984-01-01). "Selective reduction of aromatic nitro compounds with stannous chloride in non acidic and non aqueous medium". Tetrahedron Letters. 25 (8): 839–842. doi:10.1016/S0040-4039(01)80041-1. ISSN 0040-4039.
  8. ^ Ellis, Frank (2002). Paracetamol: a curriculum resource. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry. ISBN 0-85404-375-6.
  9. ^ Anthony S. Travis (2007). "Manufacture and uses of the anilines: A vast array of processes and products". In Zvi Rappoport (ed.). The chemistry of Anilines Part 1. Wiley. p. 764. ISBN 978-0-470-87171-3.
  10. ^ Elmar Friderichs; Thomas Christoph; Helmut Buschmann. "Analgesics and Antipyretics". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a02_269.pub2. ISBN 978-3527306732.
  11. ^ F. B. Dains, Floyd Eberly (1935). "p-Iodophenol". Organic Syntheses. 15: 39. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.015.0039.