Anisole

Methoxybenzene, an aromatic ether with an activating methoxy substituent.

Formula
C7H8O
Molar mass
108.14 g/mol
Also known as
Methoxybenzene, Methyl phenyl ether, Benzene, methoxy-, Phenoxymethane, Anisol, Phenyl methyl ether

Overview

Methoxybenzene, an aromatic ether with an activating methoxy substituent.

Oxygen lone-pair donation affects electrophilic substitution on the ring and favours ortho and para positions. There is no phenolic O–H bond. Anisole consequently combines aromatic ether chemistry with ring reactivity that differs from unsubstituted benzene.

Identifiers

Formula
C7H8O
Molar mass
108.14 g/mol
Also known as
Methoxybenzene, Methyl phenyl ether, Benzene, methoxy-, Phenoxymethane, Anisol, Phenyl methyl ether
Chemical identifiers
SMILES
COC1=CC=CC=C1
InChI
InChI=1S/C7H8O/c1-8-7-5-3-2-4-6-7/h2-6H,1H3
PubChem CID
7519

Properties

Melting Point
-37.3 °C
Boiling Point
155.5 °C AT 760 MM HG
Relative density (water = 1)
Relative density (water = 1): 0.99
Water solubility
Water solubility = 143 mg/L

Related compounds

  • Ethers

    Anisole is a specific member of the ethers family.

References

  1. PubChem Compound Summary: Anisole (CID 7519)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.

  2. OpenStax Organic Chemistry: Substituent effects in electrophilic substitutionsJohn McMurry · OpenStax · 2023

    Supports the qualitative structure and reactivity context; identity and numerical measurements retain their original references.

  3. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Anisole — melting pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7519#section=Melting-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Budavari, S. (ed.). The Merck Index - Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs and Biologicals. Rahway, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 1989., p. 106

  4. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Anisole — boiling pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7519#section=Boiling-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Budavari, S. (ed.). The Merck Index - Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs and Biologicals. Rahway, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 1989., p. 106

  5. ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs): Anisole — densityILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7519#section=Density. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred.

  6. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Anisole — solubilityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)

    Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/7519#section=Solubility. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Hine J, Mookerjee PK; J Org Chem 40: 292-8 (1975)