Toluene, a flammable liquid with a pungent odor, is widely employed as organic solvent. It is widely used as a precursor for synthesizing benzene and as a solvent in the paint industry.[1] It has been reported to be a biotoxic solvent (toxic to many microorganisms at 0.1%v/v concentrations).[2] Its anaerobic biodegradation to CO₂, by the denitrifying bacterium Thauera arornatica has been reported.[3] It forms a syndiotactic polystyrene-toluene molecular compound. Crystal structure of this molecular compound has been investigated by X-ray diffraction studies.[4]

Toluene has been employed as an solvent for the asymmetric synthesis of propargylic alcohols via addition reaction of terminal alkynes with various aldehydes in the presence of an optically active reagent, N-methylephedrine.[5] It may be used in the preparation of amine-capped gold nanocrystals.[6] Toluene undergoes alkylation in the presence of modified ZSM (Zeolite Socony Mobil)-5-class zeolite catalysts to form p-xylene with high selectivity.[7] When doped on graphene, it acts as an electron donor leading to alteration in graphene electrical properties.[8]