Diphenyl Ether

Diphenyl Ether is a versatile, dual-function organic compound that transitions from a crystalline solid to a clear liquid at approximately 81°F (27.2°C). Featuring a pleasant, geranium-like floral-green and metallic aroma, it is insoluble in water and plays an essential role across industrial heat transfer, fragrance formulation, and chemical synthesis.

Excellent Thermal Stability: With strong thermal stability and low vapor pressure, Diphenyl Ether is well suited for high-temperature heat transfer applications, delivering reliable and consistent performance in demanding industrial processes. 

Versatile Chemical Intermediate: Its stable aromatic ether structure makes Diphenyl Ether a valuable intermediate and reaction medium for organic synthesis, supporting applications in specialty chemicals, lubricants, surfactants, dyes, and other functional materials.

Product Description
Chemical Properties
Product Application

Products Description of Diphenyl Ether CAS#101-84-8

Diphenyl Ether (CAS#101-84-8) is a colorless material that appears as either a crystalline solid or a clear liquid and has a light, pleasant fragrance. It melts at approximately 81 °F (27.2 °C), becoming a transparent liquid once the temperature rises above this point. The product features a noticeable floral-green, metallic, geranium-type aroma and is not soluble in water.

This compound is commonly utilized as a heat-transfer agent because of its excellent thermal stability and low vapor pressure. It also holds considerable value in the fragrance industry, especially in soap formulations, where it aids in carrying and retaining scent components. Additionally, Diphenyl Ether is widely used as an intermediate in chemical synthesis, supporting numerous processes such as halogenation, acylation, and alkylation, which are important in producing a variety of organic substances and industrial materials.

Diphenyl Ether

Diphenyl ether Chemical Properties

NameDiphenyl Ether
CAS No101-84-8
Physical FormColorless crystalline solid or liquid
Melting PointAbout 81 °F (27.2 °C)
Odor Mild, pleasant, floral-green with metallic geranium notes
Solubility Not soluble in water
UsesHeat-transfer agent, fragrance and soap additive, and intermediate for organic reaction processes
Melting point 26 °C
Boiling point 259 °C(lit.)
Density 1.073 g/mL at 25 °C(lit.)
Vapor density >5.86 (25 °C, vs air)
Vapor pressure <1 mm Hg ( 20 °C)
Refractive index n20/D 1.579(lit.)
FEMA 3667 | DIPHENYL ETHER
Fp >230 °F
Storage tempStore below +30°C.
Solubility alcohol: soluble(lit.)
Form Colorless liquid
Color White or Colorless to Almost white or Almost colorless
Specific Gravity1.073
Relative polarity2.8
OdorWeak geranium.
Odor Threshold0.1ppm
Odor Typegreen
Explosive limit0.8-1.5%(V)
Water Solubility insoluble
FreezingPoint 27℃
Merck 147,288
JECFA Number1255
BRN 1364620
Henry's Law Constant2.13 at 20 °C (approximate - calculated from water solubility and vapor pressure)
Exposure limitsNIOSH REL: TWA 1 ppm (7 mg/m3), IDLH 100 ppm; OSHA PEL: TWA 1 ppm; ACGIH TLV: TWA 0.1, STEL 2 ppm (adopted).
Dielectric constant3.7(30℃)
InChIKeyUSIUVYZYUHIAEV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
LogP4.21 at 25℃
CAS DataBase Reference101-84-8(CAS DataBase Reference)
NIST Chemistry ReferenceDiphenyl ether(101-84-8)
EPA Substance Registry SystemPhenyl ether (101-84-8)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes N,Xi,T
Risk Statements 51/53-36/37/38-39/23/24/25-23/24/25-36/38-36
Safety Statements 60-61-57-37/39-26-45-36/37
RIDADR UN 3077 9/PG 3
OEBB
OELTWA: 1 ppm (7 mg/m3)
WGK Germany 2
RTECS KN8970000
Autoignition Temperature610 °C
TSCA Yes
HS Code 2909 30 10
HazardClass 9
PackingGroup III
Hazardous Substances Data101-84-8(Hazardous Substances Data)
ToxicityLD50 orally in Rabbit: 2450 mg/kg LD50 dermal Rabbit > 7940 mg/kg
IDLA100 ppm
Diphenyl Ether

In the heat transfer fluid industry, it represents its most classic and dominant application. When blended with biphenyl at a specific ratio (73.5% diphenyl ether + 26.5% biphenyl), it forms the well-known eutectic heat transfer medium Dowtherm A. This mixture features excellent thermal oxidation resistance and stable performance under high temperature, with a broad usable temperature range both in liquid and vapor phases. It is extensively deployed in high-temperature heating systems for chemical plants, pharmaceutical production lines, concentrated solar power generation, resin synthesis and petrochemical processing, enabling uniform and precise temperature control for continuous industrial production.

In the fragrance, flavor and daily chemical fields, diphenyl ether delivers long-lasting geranium, rose and powdery green notes, commonly known as artificial geranium oil in perfume formulation. It acts as a fragrance fixative and blending ingredient for soap, laundry detergent, shampoo, body wash and household cleaning products. It can stabilize floral aroma systems and reduce fragrance volatilization. It is also approved as a food flavoring agent under relevant food additive standards, applicable in food flavor formulations to enrich natural floral and fruity aroma layers.

For textile and polyester manufacturing, diphenyl ether functions as a high-boiling dye carrier and processing aid. It promotes the penetration and diffusion of disperse dyes inside polyester fibers during high-temperature dyeing, improving dye uptake, leveling effect and color fastness, and minimizing color speckles and uneven dyeing defects. Meanwhile, it works as a processing auxiliary in polyester polymerization to optimize melt fluidity and product forming performance.

In organic synthesis and fine chemical production, diphenyl ether is a vital aromatic intermediate and high-temperature inert solvent. It is the starting raw material to synthesize surfactants, high-temperature lubricants, grease additives and halogenated diphenyl ether derivatives. Its brominated derivatives can be used as flame retardants for plastics, rubber, electronic appliance housings and textile materials. It can also participate in the Ferrario reaction to prepare phenoxathiin monomers for polyimide and polyamide high-performance polymer materials. In high-temperature organic synthesis reactions, it can be used as a high-boiling reaction solvent, offering stable reaction environment without interfering with target synthetic routes.

 

Diphenyl Ether