Amyl acetate

Pentyl acetate ( amyl acetate frequently ) are the esters of acetic acid, and the eight isomeric pentyl. Other names due to their chemical structure or its properties are: amyl acetate, AMYL ACETATES, pentyl acetate, Amylessigester, Pentanolacetate, Pentylethanoate, pear oil, Birnenether or banana oil.

It is colorless, aromatic odor liquids with pear or banana odor, which are usually sold as a mixture of various isomers.

There are eight different constitutional isomers of acetic acid esters with the molecular formula C7H14O2. The compounds 2- pentyl acetate and 2- methylbutyl acetate respectively form two stereoisomers - precisely enantiomers - from. Isoamyl acetate is also one of the flavors in the wine. With an odor threshold value of 1 mg / l in white wine, it is a component of the Kaltgäraromas.

Properties of the isomers

Production

Pentyl acetate are prepared by esterification of acetic acid with addition of sulfuric acid under pentanols. This results in the esterification of 1 -pentanol, n- pentyl ester of the acetic acid - (1- pentyl ), 2 - pentanol, sec - pentyl ester of the acetic acid - (2- pentyl ), and 3 -pentanol is produced 1-ethyl -propyl (3 - pentyl acetate ). With 1,1- Dimethypropanol gives the acetic acid -tert- amyl (1,1- Dimethylpropylacetat ) and 3-methyl- 1-butanol, acetic acid, iso- amyl (3- methylbutyl ), which is also known as Birnenether.

Use

Pentyl acetate are used as solvents for paints, and resins in the chromatography, as an intermediate for the preparation of explosives and smokeless as a flavoring agent ( Birnenether ) used in the food and perfume industry.

Earlier pentyl acetate was used as the fuel for the Hefner candle.

The vapor or an aerosol of Essigsäureisoamylestern are called banana gas due to the characteristic odor and used for leak testing of respirators. The substance is also present in high concentration is not harmful, but their odor is perceptible even in low concentrations. This banana gas test, also called IPA - test (derived from isopentyl acetate ), an examination of the masks can be followed with strong lovely tear gas.

Natural Occurrence

Isoamyl acetate are pheromones of the honey bees and are used by them to attract other bees to a particular place. The pheromone is also released when a bee stings - which then results that more bees are encouraged to defend and also sting. 2- methylbutyl acetate is inter alia in apple juice and is used there as one of the reference compounds for the flavor index apple.