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2-methoxy-4-(trifluoromethyloxy)phenol

September 30, 2026

1. 2-methoxy-4-(trifluoromethyloxy)phenol; CAS: 166312-49-8 is a Fluorine-containing fine intermediates.

2. Product Overview
1. 2-methoxy-4-(trifluoromethyloxy)phenol, It is a relatively niche fluorine-containing fine chemicals / pharmaceutical and pesticide intermediates.

3. Basic Product Information
Product Name: 2-methoxy-4-(trifluoromethyloxy)phenol
Synonyms: 2-methoxy-4-(trifluoromethyloxy)phenol;2-methoxy-4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenol;Phenol, 2-methoxy-4-(trifluoromethoxy)
CAS: 166312-49-8
MF: C8H7F3O3
MW: 208.13
Structural formula:

Purity: 95%
Boiling point: 224.0±35.0 °C(Predicted)
density: 1.366±0.06 g/cm3(Predicted)
storage temp:. 2-8°C, stored under nitrogen
pka: 9.36±0.18(Predicted)
Appearance: Light yellow to light brown Solid-liquid mixture
HS code: 2909500000
Product Manager Email:crystal@coreychem.com

4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
*. What is the main purpose of 2-methoxy-4-(trifluoromethyloxy)phenol?
CAS: 166312‑49‑8 is a niche fluorine‑containing fine chemical. Its primary viable application lies in pharmaceutical intermediates.
p‑Trifluoromethoxyphenol‑type structures are frequently employed for the construction of core aromatic rings in azole antifungal agents, aryl‑ring precursors of NSAIDs, angiotensin‑II receptor antagonists, as well as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR/VEGFR). The 2‑methoxy substitution further modulates molecular conformation and metabolic sites, making it a typical “structure‑fine‑tuning” intermediate. Agrochemical intermediates and electronic materials.
*. What are the features of the product?
Phenolic hydroxyl group (1‑OH): it can directly undergo O‑alkylation, O‑acylation, and esterification. After conversion into a leaving group (triflate), it participates in cross‑coupling reactions such as Suzuki and Buchwald‑Hartwig, serving as a general “reaction handle”.
Trifluoromethoxy group (‑OCF₃): this represents the core value of the molecule. It exhibits both strong electron‑withdrawing character and high lipophilicity, which markedly improve metabolic stability (antioxidative property of C‑F bonds), membrane permeability / lipophilicity, and target‑binding affinity. The ‑OCF₃ moiety is a “privileged fluorinated substituent” in medicinal chemistry, alongside ‑CF₃ and ‑SCF₃.
Ortho‑OMe: it endows the guaiacol skeleton with distinctive electronic and conformational features. As a lignin‑derived aromatic platform molecule, it facilitates regioselective modification on the aromatic ring.
*. What is the outlook for the future?
① Fluorination in drug design represents a mainstream strategy to improve druggability, and the ‑OCF₃ group is evolving from a rarely‑used moiety to a commonly‑employed one; ② Since 2016, there has been an explosion of methodologies for direct introduction of the ‑OCF₃ group (photocatalysis, continuous‑flow processing, copper/silver‑based reagents, decarboxylative fluorination), resulting in reduced cost and improved accessibility; ③ New‑generation agrochemicals have raised requirements for novel mechanisms of action and environmental‑friendliness.
*. How to storage?
For long‑term storage, refrigerate at 2‑8 °C; for short‑term storage, keep in a cool, dry and tightly‑sealed environment. Since phenols are prone to oxidation and darkening upon exposure to air, protection with an inert gas is required
* What can Career Henan Chemical Co. do?
This product is a low‑volume, high‑value‑added fluorinated fine chemical / research‑grade building block. It is currently not available from stock and requires custom synthesis based on order quantity. Supported by mature manufacturing processes, different specifications can be customized as requested, and the price is negotiable.

5. Application Cases
* Pharmaceutical intermediate/reference substance:
Function: As a pharmaceutical molecular building block for the construction of drug‑candidate molecules; the ‑OCF₃ group is utilized to optimize metabolic stability of drugs and improve oral bioavailability.
Sub‑segments:
① Candidate drugs for the central nervous system (synthesis of benzoxazine‑ and benzofuran‑type skeletons; research on 5‑HT receptor modulators, analogous to lead‑structure modification of numerous methoxyphenol leads);
② Small‑molecule anti‑inflammatory agents and kinase inhibitors;
③ Antimicrobial lead compounds (modification of quinazoline and quinoline parent cores via fluorinated phenolic ether structures).
Note: At present, no marketed drug directly adopts this compound as a starting material. It is mainly applied in lab‑scale synthesis during the new‑drug research and development phase.
* agrochemical intermediates Research use: In the field of agrochemical intermediates, research has been conducted on fluorine‑containing building blocks based on trifluoromethoxyphenol for agrochemicals.* Commonly used as Nilotinib EP Impurity G for pharmaceutical quality control, method validation, stability studies, and batch-to-batch consistency assessment.
* OLED materials: For liquid‑crystal and electronic materials, this structural motif can serve as a terminal group in fluorinated liquid‑crystal molecules, which helps improve response speed and operating temperature range. There are also research investigations into its application in high‑performance polymers (polyimide, modified PEEK) for enhancing heat resistance and radiation‑resistance properties.