Anisole
The foundational aromatic ether supplied by Chelora Chemicals — a versatile precursor to perfumery and pharmaceutical intermediates, and a standard laboratory solvent and reagent — exported from Indonesia with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Anisole is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its place as the simplest aromatic methyl ether, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Anisole (methoxybenzene) is the simplest aromatic ether: a benzene ring carrying a methoxy group. The methoxy group is a strong electron donor by resonance, making the ring considerably more reactive toward electrophilic aromatic substitution than benzene itself, and directing any incoming electrophile predominantly to the ortho and para positions. This single structural feature — a strongly activating, ortho/para-directing ether — is what makes anisole such a broadly useful starting material across fragrance, pharmaceutical and fine-chemical synthesis.
At room temperature it is a clear, colourless, mobile liquid with a characteristic faintly aromatic, almost anise-like odour (the name itself derives from aniseed). It is only slightly soluble in water but miscible with most organic solvents, and is handled as a flammable liquid with routine solvent-handling precautions.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Anisole is a precursor to a wide range of synthetic compounds: it is used in the manufacture of perfumery materials and insect pheromones, as a precursor to synthetic anethole (a flavour and fragrance compound), and more broadly as a building block in pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis wherever an activated, methoxy-substituted aromatic ring is required. It is also a standard laboratory reagent and solvent in its own right.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Anisole in technical grade (≈99% assay) for standard industrial synthesis, and high-purity grade (99.5%+) for applications sensitive to colour or water content. Both grades are supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Anisole is made
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Anisole is manufactured by the Williamson ether synthesis: sodium phenoxide (from phenol and a base) is reacted with dimethyl sulfate or methyl chloride, which methylates the phenoxide oxygen to give anisole directly. This is the standard modern industrial route. An older method, now largely of historical interest, proceeded via decarboxylation of barium anisate.
After the methylation step, the crude product is separated from residual phenol, salts and methylating agent, washed, and distilled to the required purity before packing.
Why the Williamson route is preferred
Direct O-methylation of phenoxide is clean, selective and scalable, giving anisole in high yield without the side reactions that can accompany older, more roundabout preparative routes — which is why essentially all commercial anisole today is made this way.
Industries and processes that use it
Anisole is consumed across fragrance, pharmaceutical and fine-chemical synthesis, and as a general-purpose laboratory solvent. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Perfumery & Fragrance Intermediate Chemistry
Used in the manufacture of perfumery materials and insect pheromones, and as a precursor to synthetic anethole.
Pharmaceutical Intermediate Chemistry
A building block in pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis wherever an activated, methoxy-substituted aromatic ring is required.
Nitration Feedstock (Nitroanisole Route)
Nitration gives ortho- and para-nitroanisole, each a recognised dye and pharmaceutical intermediate in its own right.
Laboratory Solvent & Reagent
Used as a standard laboratory reagent and solvent in its own right, including in some NMR and chromatography applications.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The methoxy group's strong activating, ortho/para-directing effect governs almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Anisole is converted into a finished intermediate.
Nitration
Electrophilic nitration, directed ortho/para by the methoxy group, gives a mixture of ortho- and para-nitroanisole, each used further in dye and pharmaceutical intermediate chemistry.
Halogenation
Electrophilic halogenation, similarly directed ortho/para, gives the corresponding halo-anisole, a building block for further cross-coupling and specialty synthesis.
Friedel-Crafts Acylation
The activated ring undergoes Friedel-Crafts acylation readily, giving aryl ketones used in fragrance and pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis.
Demethylation
Under suitable acidic or Lewis-acid conditions, the methyl ether can be cleaved back to phenol, a reaction sometimes used in reverse-engineering or deprotection steps in synthesis.
Anisole against its nitrated derivative and other building blocks we supply
Buyers sourcing anisole often need its nitrated derivative for the next step in their process. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anisole | 100-66-3 | Aromatic ether | The product on this page — the foundational aromatic methyl ether in our range. |
| Ortho Nitroanisole | 91-23-6 | Nitro aromatic ether | The ortho-nitrated derivative of this product — see its product page. |
| Para Nitrophenol | 100-02-7 | Nitrophenol | A related oxygen-substituted nitroaromatic elsewhere in our range — see its product page. |
| Nitrobenzene | 98-95-3 | Mono-nitro aromatic | The foundational nitroaromatic building block in our broader range — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Anisole.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Flammable liquid and vapour.
Causes skin irritation.
Causes serious eye irritation.
Impervious gloves, splash-proof eye protection and suitable respiratory protection are the baseline for routine handling.
Flammable liquid with a flash point around 41 °C; keep away from open flames, sparks and other ignition sources.
Use in a well-ventilated area or under local exhaust ventilation to manage vapour concentration.
Avoid any release to drains or waterways as a general solvent-handling precaution.
Warning — GHS02 flammable and GHS07 irritant pictograms apply.
This compound is a flammable liquid that causes skin and eye irritation; it must be kept away from open flames, sparks and other ignition sources, and handled with impervious gloves and splash-proof eye protection in a well-ventilated area. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and should be read in full before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, open flames and other ignition sources, in tightly closed original packaging, segregated from strong oxidizing agents. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check assay, colour and water content before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Anisole leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by GC), colour and water content, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is Anisole used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Anisole?+
03How is Anisole made?+
04What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Anisole hazardous?+
06Why is anisole so much more reactive than benzene?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply the nitrated derivative as well?+
Need Anisole on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.