CRESOL

any of three methylphenols possessing the same molecular formula (CH3C6H4OH) but with different structures: ortho-cresol, meta-cresol, and para-cresol. They are obtained from coal tar or petroleum and are useful as raw materials for various chemical products. The isomer o-cresol is a starting material for the herbicides 4,6-dinitro-o-cresol (DNOC) and 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA). The isomers m-cresol and p-cresol are used in phenol-formaldehyde resins and are converted to tricresyl phosphate (a plasticizer and gasoline additive) and to di-tert-butylcresols (antioxidants called BHT). Cresylic acid, a mixture of the three cresols, together with some phenol and xylenols, is an important technical product used as a disinfectant and in the manufacture of resins and tricresyl phosphate.