1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, also known as pseudocumene, is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH. Classified as an aromatic hydrocarbon, it is a flammable colorless liquid with a strong odor. It is nearly insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. It occurs naturally in coal tar and petroleum. It is one of the three isomers of trimethylbenzene.Production
Industrially, it is isolated from the C aromatic hydrocarbon fraction during petroleum distillation. Approximately 40% of this fraction is 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene. It is also generated by methylation of toluene and xylenes and the disproportionation of xylene over aluminosilicate catalysts.Uses
Pseudocumene is a precursor to mellitic anhydride, from which high performance polymers are made. It is also used as a sterilizing agent and in the making of dyes, perfumes and resins. Another use is as a gasoline additive.Scintillator
1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene dissolved in mineral oil is used as a liquid scintillator in particle physics experiments such as NOνA and Borexino.
