http://its.goofyti.me/u/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thymol
Thymol is the major constituent of thyme oil, available from a number of retailers or from ordinary thyme. Aromatic iodination of thymol (with molecular iodine or iodine monochloride) will exclusively (>90%) take place ortho to the methyl group. Permanganate will oxidize the methyl to the benzoic acid and will further oxidize the resulting 2-iodo-4-isopropyl-5-hydroxybenzoic acid all the way to 4-isopropyl-5-hydroxy-IBX. Oxidation with Oxone (peroxybisulfate) is considered superior but afaik most wasps can't get Oxone.
IBX is known for a number of uses, but most especially the demethylation of monomethyl catechols such as vanillin and the oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones.
As to characterization of the iodo-thymol intermediate -- anyone's guess is as good as mine.
Thymol is the major constituent of thyme oil, available from a number of retailers or from ordinary thyme. Aromatic iodination of thymol (with molecular iodine or iodine monochloride) will exclusively (>90%) take place ortho to the methyl group. Permanganate will oxidize the methyl to the benzoic acid and will further oxidize the resulting 2-iodo-4-isopropyl-5-hydroxybenzoic acid all the way to 4-isopropyl-5-hydroxy-IBX. Oxidation with Oxone (peroxybisulfate) is considered superior but afaik most wasps can't get Oxone.
IBX is known for a number of uses, but most especially the demethylation of monomethyl catechols such as vanillin and the oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones.
As to characterization of the iodo-thymol intermediate -- anyone's guess is as good as mine.