Methyleugenol

• 4-Allyl -1 ,2- dimethoxybenzene
• Eugenol

Colorless to yellowish liquid with a pleasant odor

Liquid

1.04 g · cm -3

4 ° C

• 255 ° C
• 128-130 ° C ( 13.2 hPa)

<1 hPa ( 20 ° C)

Practically insoluble in water and glycerin soluble in various oils

1.50

Attention

810 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, rat, oral)

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Methyl eugenol is a natural component in the essential oils of fennel, rose, basil, anise, allspice, nutmeg, bay or laurel. Methyleugenol belongs to a group of lipophilic phenylpropanoids with an allylic side chain, which can be carcinogenic and mutagenic when taken orally in higher concentration by animal experiments.

Occurrence and production

Eugenol is found - often together with eugenol - in many essential oils, including some in anise oil, basil oil, fennel oil, pine oil and cinnamon oil. Synthetic methyl eugenol is produced from eugenol by methylation.

Safety

Since the substance has been widely found in tea infusions, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in 2001 has underlined the urgency that in such Teeerzeugnissen methyleugenol must not be detectable - particularly since these drinks are often given to infants and toddlers. In the Aromenverordnung for foodstuffs and cosmetics regulation since a ban on the use of the substance methyl eugenol has been set. Methyl eugenol may not be used in the manufacture or treatment of cosmetic products. Excluding normal content in the use of natural essential oils, provided that the concentration does not exceed the following values:

• 0.01 % in perfume
• 0.004 % in eau de toilette
• 0.002% cream in Perfume
• 0.001 % in washable materials and
• 0.0002 % in products for oral care and other resources, which remain on the skin.

The Federal Institute for Health Protection of Consumers and Veterinary Medicine ( Medicine) in 2008 found elevated levels in tea tree oil -containing cosmetics.