Butylated hydroxyanisole
IUPAC name	2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole and 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (mixture)
Other names	BOA tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methoxyphenol tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenol antioxyne B [1]
Identifiers
CAS number	25013-16-5,8003-24-5, 9009-68-1, 121-00-6, 88-32-4
Properties
Molecular formula	C11H16O2
Molar mass	180.24 g/mol
Appearance	waxy solid
Density	1.0587 g/cm³ at 20°C
Melting point	48-55 °C
Boiling point	264-270 °C
Solubility in water	Insoluble in water; freely soluble in ethanol, methanol, propylene glycol; soluble in fats and oils
Refractive index (nD)	1.5303 at 589.3nm [2]
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) is an antioxidant consisting of a mixture of two isomeric organic compounds, 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole and 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole. It is prepared from 4-methoxyphenol and isobutylene. It is a waxy solid used in certain amounts as a food additive with the E number E320. Some controversy surrounds the use of BHA as an antioxidant. However, the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of BHA and a similar preservative, butylated hydroxytoluene BHT, is exceeded by only a small fraction of the population ^[3]. Furthermore, the usual low intake levels of BHA and BHT showed no significant association with an increased risk of cancer^[4].

Like butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), the conjugated aromatic ring of BHA is able to stabilize free radicals, sequestering them. By acting as free radical scavengers, further free radical reactions are prevented.

BHA is also commonly used in medicines, such as isotretinoin (known as Accutane/Roaccutane), lovastatin, and simvastatin, among others.

[edit] See also

• Anisole
• Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)

[edit] References

1. ^ "BHA and BHT". http://chemistry.about.com/od/foodcookingchemistry/a/bha-bht-preservatives.htm. Retrieved Nov. 20, 2009. 
2. ^ "SciFinder — Experimental properties for 121-00-6". https://scifinder.cas.org. Retrieved Nov. 20, 2009. 
3. ^ Soubra L, Sarkis D, Hilan C, Verger Ph, "Dietary exposure of children and teenages to benzoates, sulphites, butylhydroxyanisol, (BHA) and butylhydroxytoluen (BHT) in Beirut (Lebanon", Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. 2007;47:68-77.
4. ^ Botterweck AAM, Vergaen H, GoldBohm RA, KleinJans J, van den Brant PA "Intake of Butylated Hydroxyanisole and Butylated Hydroxytoluene and Stomach Cancer Risk: Results from Analyses in the Netherlands Cohort Study", Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2007;38:599-605.