para-methoxyaniline
|pa-ra-meth-ox-y-an-i-line|
🇺🇸
/ˌpærəˈmɛθəksiˈænəlɪn/
🇬🇧
/ˌpærəˈmɛθɒksiˈænɪliːn/
aniline with a para methoxy group
Etymology
'para-methoxyaniline' originates from combined systematic organic-nomenclature elements: the locant 'para' from Greek 'para' meaning 'beside', 'methoxy' formed from 'methyl' + 'oxy' (with 'methyl' ultimately from Greek 'methy' historically), and 'aniline' from Portuguese/Spanish 'anil' (meaning 'indigo') with the chemical suffix '-ine'.
'aniline' was coined in the 19th century from Portuguese/Spanish 'anil', entered French as 'aniline' and then English; 'para-methoxyaniline' is a later systematic name formed by combining the locant 'para-', the substituent name 'methoxy-' and the parent 'aniline' according to IUPAC-style conventions.
Initially, 'aniline' referred to a substance obtained from indigo dye; over time it came to mean the aromatic amine 'aniline' more generally, and compound names like 'para-methoxyaniline' denote specific substituted anilines.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a chemical compound (an aromatic amine) in which a methoxy group (-OCH3) is attached at the para (4-) position of aniline; also called p-anisidine or 4-methoxyaniline. It is used as an intermediate in dye and pharmaceutical synthesis and is a hazardous/toxic substance.
Para-methoxyaniline (p-anisidine) is commonly used as an intermediate in the manufacture of dyes and as a reagent in organic synthesis.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/05 04:24