Anethole

Synonyms

1-Methoxy-4-(1-propenyl)benzene; 1-Methoxy-4-propenylbenzene; 1-Propene, 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-; 4-Methoxy-1-propenylbenzene; 4-Methoxypropenylbenzene; 4-Propenylanisole; Acintene O; Anethol; Anethol (synthetic); Anise camphor; Aniskampfer; Anisole, p-propenyl-; Benzene, 1-methoxy-4-(1-propenyl)-; Isoestragole; Monasirup; Nauli "gum"; Oil of aniseed; Propene, 1-(p-methoxyphenyl)-; p-1-Propenylanisole; p-Anethole; p-Methoxy-beta-methylstyrene; p-Propenylanisole; p-Propenylmethoxybenzene; p-Propenylphenyl methyl ether; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Other Aromatic Compounds

Description

White solid with an odor of anise; Affected by light; [Hawley] Colorless liquid with a sweet odor of aniseed; [Merck Index] Colorless crystalline solid or liquid; mp = 20-23 deg C; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Chief constituent of anise, star anise, and fennel oils; Used as a flavoring agent (foods, beverages, and drugs) and fragrance (soaps and dentifrices); [Merck Index] Used to make anisaldehyde, as a sensitizer in bleaching colors in photography, an embedding material in microscopy, and an insect attractant; [HSDB]

Comments

A mutagen and tumorigen; Causes hepatitis, somnolence, and coma in high-dose feeding studies of rats; [RTECS] Fennel oil is toxic by ingestion--may cause vomiting, seizures, and pulmonary edema; [HSDB] Food handlers may develop contact dermatitis to anethole; [Kanerva, p. 1752] May cause irritation; [MSDSonline]

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

0.05 mm Hg

Explanatory Notes

Flash point = 90.1 deg C; [CAMEO]

Yes

Other CNS neurotoxin

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Contact dermatitis, allergic

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Photographic Processing