Isophthalic acid

Isophthalic acid is an organic compound with the formula C6H4(CO2H)2. This colorless solid is an isomer of phthalic acid and terephthalic acid. The main industrial uses of purified isophthalic acid (PIA) are for the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin and for the production of unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) and other types of coating resins.

Isophthalic acid
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Benzene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid
Other names
Isophthalic acid
meta-Phthalic acid
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.004.098
UNII
Properties
C8H6O4
Molar mass 166.132 g·mol−1
Appearance White crystalline solid
Density 1.526 g/cm3, Solid
Insoluble
Acidity (pKa) 3.46, 4.46[1]
-84.64·10−6 cm3/mol
Hazards
Not listed
Related compounds
Benzoic acid
Phthalic acid (ortho)
Terephthalic acid (para)
Trimesic acid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Isophthalic acid is one of three isomers of benzenedicarboxylic acid, the others being phthalic acid and terephthalic acid.

Preparation

Isophthalic acid is produced on the billion kilogram per year scale by oxidizing meta-xylene using oxygen.[2] The process employs a cobalt-manganese catalyst. The world's largest producer of isophthalic acid is Lotte Chemical Corporation.[3]

In the laboratory, chromic acid can be used as the oxidant. It also arises by fusing potassium meta-sulfobenzoate, or meta-bromobenzoate with potassium formate (terephthalic acid is also formed in the last case).

The barium salt, as its hexahydrate, is very soluble in water (a distinction between phthalic and terephthalic acids). Uvitic acid, 5-methylisophthalic acid, is obtained by oxidizing mesitylene or by condensing pyroracemic acid with baryta water.

Applications

Aromatic dicarboxylic acids are used as precursors (in form of acyl chlorides) to commercially important polymers, e.g. the fire-resistant material Nomex. Mixed with terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid is used in the production of PET resins for drink plastic bottles and food packaging. The high-performance polymer polybenzimidazole is produced from isophthalic acid.[2] Also, the acid is used as an important input to produce insulation materials.

References
  1. Brown, H.C., et al., in Baude, E.A. and Nachod, F.C., Determination of Organic Structures by Physical Methods, Academic Press, New York, 1955.
  2. Lorz, Peter M.; Towae, Friedrich K.; Enke, Walter; Jäckh, Rudolf; Bhargava, Naresh; Hillesheim, Wolfgang (2007). "Phthalic Acid and Derivatives". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a20_181.pub2.
  3. "Lotte Chemical to invest $3.2mn to beef up meta-xylene and polycarbonate production". Pulse.

Note: reference 2 refers to the ortho isomer. Accurate cites for the meta isomer not available.

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