Toluene

Legality: DEA Listed Chemicals

Production of this substance may be illegal in some jurisdictions under certain circumstances.

21CFR1310.02 a & b

In 1995/6, two lists were created "List I" and "List II", for which commercial manufacturers and distributors must register, and for which possession with the intent to manufacture illegal substances (such as methamphetamine, ecstasy, etc) is illegal. On these a few dozen "precursor" compounds commonly used in the manufacture of illegal drugs.

Bottom line: Do not produce this chemical without checking to make sure that you may do so legally.

 

 

Toluene
DEA LIST I/II SUBSTANCE

Chemical formula	C6H5CH3
OTP appearance	liquid
Molar Mass(g/mol)	92.14
Density(g/cc)	0.87
Melting Point(°C)	-95
Boiling Point(°C)	111
NFPA 704	3 2 0

Uses

Justification Questioned

Other

• Solvent
• General aromatic feedstock

Natural Occurrence

• Does occur naturally in crude oil, naphtha, coal tar, etc.

Hazards

• Flammable
• Toxic

Production

Extraction

• Wood distillation

Synthesis

• Friedel-Crafts from benzene and chloromethane in an anhydrous environment over a catalyst from the list AlCl₃>SbCl₃>SnCl₄>BF₃>ZnCl₂>HgCl₂

  C₆H₆ + CH₃Cl

  {AlCl₃

  →

  }

  C₆H₅CH₃ + HCl

• From benzaldehyde via clemmensen reduction:

  C₇H₅OH

  {Zn,Hf,HCl

  →

  }

  C₇H₈

• From phenol