Editing Cresol (section)

== Applications ==
Cresols are precursors or synthetic intermediates to other compounds and materials, including plastics, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and dyes.<ref name=Ullmann>Helmut Fiegein "Cresols and Xylenols" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry" 2007; Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. {{doi|10.1002/14356007.a08_025}}</ref>

For cresol bactericides or disinfectants the mechanism of action is due to the destruction of bacterial [[cell membranes]].<ref name="judis62">{{cite journal |doi=10.1002/jps.2600510317|title=Studies on the Mechanism of Action of Phenolic Disinfectants I|year=1962|last1=Judis|first1=Joseph|journal=Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences|volume=51|issue=3|pages=261–265|pmid=14452711}}</ref><ref name="dboc">{{cite news |title=IDENTIFICATION Name Cresol |url=https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB11143 |publisher=DrugBank Online |date=12 June 2020}}</ref>

Most recently, cresols have been used to create a breakthrough in manufacturing [[carbon nanotubes]] at scale that are separated and not twisted, without additional chemicals that change the surface properties of the nanotubes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Making carbon nanotubes as usable as common plastics: Researchers discover that cresols disperse carbon nanotubes at unprecedentedly high concentrations |url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180515162801.htm |publisher=ScienceDaily, Northwestern University |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516060704/http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180515162801.htm |archive-date=2018-05-16 |date=15 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chiou |first1=Kevin |last2=Byun |first2=Segi |last3=Kim |first3=Jaemyung |last4=Huang |first4=Jiaxing |title=Additive-free carbon nanotube dispersions, pastes, gels, and doughs in cresols |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |date=29 May 2018 |volume=115 |issue=22 |pages=5703–5708 |doi=10.1073/pnas.1800298115|pmid=29760075 |pmc=5984515 |bibcode=2018PNAS..115.5703C |doi-access=free }} {{open access}}</ref>

===Commercial examples===
* [[Creolin]], a 19th-century disinfectant.
* [[Carbolic soap]], 19th-century.
* The original [[Lysol]] formulation, essentially a water solution of carbolic soap.<ref name="LysolCresolReference">{{cite book
|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/21724/21724-h/21724-h.htm
|title=THE HANDBOOK OF SOAP MANUFACTURE no
|year=1908
|publisher=SCOTT, GREENWOOD & SON
|last=SIMMONS|first=W.H.}}</ref> "Lysol" has been used as a [[generic trademark]] to refer to such a cresol soap solution and remains used as such in some professional settings. The CAS number is 12772-68-8.

=== Derivatives ===
Derivatives of ''p''-cresol include:
* [[Butylated hydroxytoluene]], a common [[antioxidant]]

Derivatives of ''o''-cresol include:
* [[Indo-1]], a popular calcium indicator
* [[MCPA]], (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid
* [[MCPB]], 4-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)butanoic acid
* [[Mecoprop]], (''RS'')-2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)propanoic acid
* the [[amine]] [[atomoxetine]], (3''R'')-''N''-methyl-3-(2-methylphenoxy)-3-phenylpropan-1-amine
* the [[diol]] [[mephenesin]], 3-(2-methylphenoxy)propane-1,2-diol

Derivatives of ''m''-cresol include:
* [[Amylmetacresol]], an [[antiseptic]]
* [[Bevantolol]], (''RS'')-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl] [2-hydroxy-3-(3-methylphenoxy)propyl]amine
* [[Bromocresol green]]
* [[Bupranolol]], a non-selective [[beta blocker]]
* [[Chloro-m-cresol|Chloro-''m''-cresol]] which is used as a household disinfectant
* [[Tolimidone]], 5-(3-methylphenoxy)pyrimidin-2(1''H'')-one