MOLECULE

Cumene

Cumene or Isopropylbenzene, also known as 2-phenylpropane or cumol, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as cumenes. These are aromatic compounds containing a prop-2-ylbenzene moiety. It is a constituent of crude oil and refined fuels. It is a flammable colorless liquid that has a boiling point of 152 °C. Cumene is produced commercially by Friedel–Crafts alkylation of benzene with propylene. Nearly all the cumene that is produced as a pure compound on an industrial scale is converted to cumene hydroperoxide, which is an intermediate in the synthesis of other industrially important chemicals such as phenol and acetone. Isopropylbenzene is also found naturally in many plant foods, such as ceylon cinnamon, herbs and spices, cumin, and ginger. Cumene has also been detected as a volatile component in cannabis plant samples (PMID: 26657499).