Phenoxyethanol undergoes an addition reaction with ethylene oxide in the presence of sodium acetate or sodium peroxide, and the product is then obtained by vacuum distillation. The reaction temperature is 200℃, and the reaction pressure is 0.2~0.25 MPa.
Phenoxyethanol is used as a fixative in perfumes, as an insect repellent, as a topical disinfectant, as a solvent for cellulose acetate, and in dyes, inks, resins, preservatives, and other pharmaceutical applications. It is also used as an anesthetic for fish in aquaculture. It is also listed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an ingredient in several US vaccines. In Japan, the use of phenoxyethanol in cosmetics is monitored.
