Hydroxyphenylacetic acid

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  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    156-38-7

    Molecular formula
    C8H8O3

    SMILES
    C1=CC(=CC=C1CC(=O)O)O

    Safety labels

    Irritant
    Irritant

  • Odor profile

    Fragrance
    Phenolic 63.38%
    Honey 43.1%
    Animal 42.6%
    Sweet 37.49%
    Balsamic 36.96%
    Sour 31.07%
    Nutty 30.74%
    Powdery 30.03%
    Odorless 29.62%
    Medicinal 29.09%

     

    Flavor
    Mild 49.46%
    Sweet 46.26%
    Sour 44.0%
    Phenolic 42.67%
    Odorless 41.91%
    Honey 31.67%
    Nutty 31.62%
    Faint 28.23%
    Balsamic 27.35%
    Floral 27.04%

     

    Odor impact est.
    Low

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    0.8

    pKa est.
    7.68 (neutral)

    Molecular weight
    152.15 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • hPa @ 20°C
    • hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Ultra slow

    Boiling point est.
    338°C

    Melting point expt.

    • 148 - 150 °C

    Flash point

    • 171.26 ˚C est.

    Solubility expt.

    • 60.7 mg/mL

  • Synonyms

    • 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid
    • 156-38-7
    • p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid
    • (4-Hydroxyphenyl)acetic acid
    • benzeneacetic acid, 4-hydroxy-
    • 4-Hydroxybenzeneacetic acid
    • (p-Hydroxyphenyl)acetic acid
    • Parahydroxy phenylacetic acid
    • 4-Carboxymethylphenol
    • Acetic acid, (p-hydroxyphenyl)-
    • 3J9SHG0RCN
    • NSC-25066
    • NSC-27460
    • DTXSID5059745
    • CHEBI:18101
    • para-hydroxyphenylacetic acid
    • RefChem:524062
    • DTXCID6035023
    • 205-851-3
    • Hydroxyphenylacetic acid
    • 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetic acid
    • MFCD00004347
    • 4-Hydroxyphenyl acetic acid
    • p-hydroxyphenylacetate
    • p-Hydroxyphenyl acetic acid
    • Parahydroxy phenylacetate
    • 4-hydroxyphenyl-acetic acid
    • CHEMBL1772
    • 4-hydroxy phenyl acetic acid
    • 4-Hydroxy-Benzeneacetic acid
    • (4-hydroxy-phenyl)-acetic acid
    • 4-hydroxybenzeneacetate
    • 4HP
    • (p-hydroxyphenyl)acetate
    • 2-[4-(hydroxy)phenyl)acetic acid
    • 4-HPA
    • 2-(4-(HYDROXY)PHENYL)ACETIC ACID
    • 4-(Carboxymethyl)phenol
    • EINECS 205-851-3
    • UNII-3J9SHG0RCN
    • NSC 25066
    • BRN 1448766
    • AI3-17755
    • 3pcg
    • Parahydroxyphenylacetate
    • 1ai6
    • 4-Hydroxy-Benzeneacetate
    • 4-hydroxyphenyacetic acid
    • 4-hydroxyphenylactic acid
    • 4-hyroxyphenylacetic acid
    • (p-hydroxyphenyl)-Acetate
    • ChemDiv3_005483
    • 4-hydroxylphenylacetic acid
    • bmse000455
    • (p-hydroxyphenyl)-aceticaci
    • 4- hydroxyphenylacetic acid
    • 4-hydroxy-phenylacetic acid
    • 4-hydroxyphenylethanoic acid
    • p-hydroxy benzeneacetic acid
    • (4-hydroxy-phenyl)-acetate
    • p-hydroxy phenyl acetic acid
    • 4-Hydroxybenzene acetic acid
    • SCHEMBL75700
    • 4-hydroxy-phenyl acetic acid
    • 4-10-00-00543 (Beilstein Handbook Reference)
    • MLS001066398
    • (p-hydroxyphenyl)-Acetic acid
    • (4-hydroxyphenyl) acetic acid
    • (4-hydroxyphenyl)-acetic acid
    • (4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanoic acid
    • Acetic acid, 4-hydroxyphenyl-
    • orb1303813
    • orb3025993
    • SCHEMBL7191616
    • (4-Hydroxy-phenyl)-essigsaeure
    • SCHEMBL10460348
    • SCHEMBL10626583
    • SCHEMBL17028326
    • HY-N1902R
    • 4-Hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 98%
    • HMS1488J05
    • HMS2760I07
    • BB_NC-02267
    • CS-D1503
    • HY-N1902
    • NSC25066
    • NSC27460
    • AC7824
    • BBL027456
    • BDBM50339586
    • s4863
    • SBB059600
    • STL377918
    • 4-Hydroxyphenylacetic acid (Standard)
    • AKOS000277614
    • CCG-266227
    • EBC-151033
    • FH24475
    • MSK70001-1000M
    • PS-5568
    • IDI1_023393
    • AC-10104
    • SMR000020068
    • ST097248
    • SY004128
    • DB-043314
    • EU-0016214
    • H0290
    • NS00006155
    • EN300-18714
    • C00642
    • AM-814/41090691
    • F003630
    • Q4637160
    • Z89269462
    • 2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)acetic acidP-hydroxybenzeneacetic acid
    • 4-Hydroxyphenylacetic acid, Vetec(TM) reagent grade, 98%
    • 4-Hydroxyphenylaceticacid Solution in Methanol, 1000ug/mL
    • B977C251-72C6-4D13-AD85-937DCA3E6AF2
    • InChI=1/C8H8O3/c9-7-3-1-6(2-4-7)5-8(10)11/h1-4,9H,5H2,(H,10,11
    • 156-38-7

  • Applications

    Hydroxyphenylacetic acid (CAS 156-38-7) is commonly evaluated as an intermediate in the synthesis of fragrance and flavor compounds, acting as a precursor to aromatic derivatives used in perfumery. It is also used as a pharmaceutical intermediate, enabling routes to phenylacetic acid–based drug scaffolds. In cosmetics and personal care, it can serve as a fragrance ingredient precursor or functional additive in formulations. In polymer and coatings applications, its phenolic and carboxyl functionalities allow it to be used as a building block for functionalized polymers and resins. Overall, it is typically employed as a chemical intermediate with use cases largely dependent on specific synthetic routes and regulatory constraints.

    gpt-5-nano

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 166.08
    methanol 258.42
    isopropanol 100.55
    water 33.51
    ethyl acetate 19.86
    n-propanol 92.64
    acetone 97.55
    n-butanol 71.52
    acetonitrile 19.06
    DMF 224.81
    toluene 2.46
    isobutanol 53.33
    1,4-dioxane 32.49
    methyl acetate 34.42
    THF 133.74
    2-butanone 62.9
    n-pentanol 47.75
    sec-butanol 76.8
    n-hexane 2.99
    ethylene glycol 171.15
    NMP 187.8
    cyclohexane 0.62
    DMSO 442.56
    n-butyl acetate 19.88
    n-octanol 20.74
    chloroform 4.32
    n-propyl acetate 18.21
    acetic acid 45.73
    dichloromethane 4.49
    cyclohexanone 29.45
    propylene glycol 135.15
    isopropyl acetate 13.01
    DMAc 241.44
    2-ethoxyethanol 142.57
    isopentanol 55.49
    n-heptane 2.32
    ethyl formate 30.07
    1,2-dichloroethane 6.98
    n-hexanol 47.39
    2-methoxyethanol 251.72
    isobutyl acetate 6.43
    tetrachloromethane 5.93
    n-pentyl acetate 11.62
    transcutol 111.4
    n-heptanol 22.05
    ethylbenzene 4.56
    MIBK 24.31
    2-propoxyethanol 113.65
    tert-butanol 130.41
    MTBE 32.26
    2-butoxyethanol 52.48
    propionic acid 59.95
    o-xylene 5.04
    formic acid 131.84
    diethyl ether 22.06
    m-xylene 3.94
    p-xylene 4.38
    chlorobenzene 2.51
    dimethyl carbonate 24.49
    n-octane 0.84
    formamide 174.49
    cyclopentanone 72.9
    2-pentanone 39.9
    anisole 20.47
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 32.2
    gamma-butyrolactone 78.09
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 148.75
    pyridine 11.82
    3-pentanone 26.3
    furfural 59.09
    n-dodecane 0.59
    diethylene glycol 149.51
    diisopropyl ether 6.94
    tert-amyl alcohol 95.78
    acetylacetone 33.46
    n-hexadecane 0.62
    acetophenone 22.5
    methyl propionate 30.78
    isopentyl acetate 16.83
    trichloroethylene 10.27
    n-nonanol 17.39
    cyclohexanol 25.11
    benzyl alcohol 23.18
    2-ethylhexanol 19.37
    isooctanol 14.93
    dipropyl ether 15.43
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 4.27
    ethyl lactate 28.61
    propylene carbonate 28.57
    n-methylformamide 146.74
    2-pentanol 41.5
    n-pentane 1.94
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 68.68
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 30.68
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 57.81
    mesitylene 3.18
    ε-caprolactone 30.44
    p-cymene 5.55
    epichlorohydrin 56.7
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 7.05
    2-aminoethanol 199.24
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 107.76
    sulfolane 149.86
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 1.58
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 57.03
    n-hexyl acetate 18.58
    isooctane 1.13
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 64.56
    sec-butyl acetate 10.15
    tert-butyl acetate 20.85
    decalin 1.1
    glycerin 187.63
    diglyme 97.51
    acrylic acid 54.2
    isopropyl myristate 7.06
    n-butyric acid 40.62
    acetyl acetate 9.13
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 11.47
    ethyl propionate 19.7
    nitromethane 77.37
    1,2-diethoxyethane 16.6
    benzonitrile 8.18
    trioctyl phosphate 9.82
    1-bromopropane 4.81
    gamma-valerolactone 79.66
    n-decanol 12.65
    triethyl phosphate 12.21
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 22.09
    propionitrile 18.73
    vinylene carbonate 17.72
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 83.27
    DMS 13.81
    cumene 4.65
    2-octanol 13.03
    2-hexanone 29.91
    octyl acetate 10.64
    limonene 7.29
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 128.27
    ethyl orthosilicate 10.8
    tributyl phosphate 10.15
    diacetone alcohol 66.79
    N,N-dimethylaniline 20.24
    acrylonitrile 22.88
    aniline 11.89
    1,3-propanediol 162.22
    bromobenzene 1.55
    dibromomethane 3.26
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 11.28
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 14.28
    tetrabutyl urea 17.73
    diisobutyl methanol 11.36
    2-phenylethanol 26.73
    styrene 3.43
    dioctyl adipate 11.24
    dimethyl sulfate 63.12
    ethyl butyrate 16.16
    methyl lactate 50.55
    butyl lactate 21.82
    diethyl carbonate 10.67
    propanediol butyl ether 61.13
    triethyl orthoformate 13.18
    p-tert-butyltoluene 5.55
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 28.23
    morpholine 59.51
    tert-butylamine 50.12
    n-dodecanol 8.44
    dimethoxymethane 104.01
    ethylene carbonate 14.0
    cyrene 58.09
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 15.95
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 11.77
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 6.5
    4-methylpyridine 14.74
    dibutyl ether 8.33
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 11.36
    DEF 51.89
    dimethyl isosorbide 71.76
    tetrachloroethylene 11.79
    eugenol 36.24
    triacetin 16.86
    span 80 35.21
    1,4-butanediol 76.73
    1,1-dichloroethane 5.69
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 36.09
    methyl formate 89.75
    2-methyl-1-butanol 54.37
    n-decane 1.08
    butyronitrile 16.33
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 16.07
    1-chlorooctane 4.27
    1-chlorotetradecane 1.5
    n-nonane 1.09
    undecane 0.78
    tert-butylcyclohexane 1.54
    cyclooctane 0.45
    cyclopentanol 45.37
    tetrahydropyran 19.99
    tert-amyl methyl ether 30.07
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 71.84
    1-hexene 7.61
    2-isopropoxyethanol 68.19
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 39.82
    methyl butyrate 28.07

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
No restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 No restriction Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 No restriction Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 No restriction Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 No restriction
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 No restriction Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 No restriction
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 No restriction
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 No restriction
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 No restriction Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 No restriction Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction