Pentaerythritol

• Pentaerythritol
• 2,2-bis ( hydroxymethyl) 1,3- propanediol

White crystalline powder with a sweet taste

Fixed

1.4 g · cm -3

262 ° C

276 ° C ( 40hPa )

1.13 mPa

• Poorly in water ( 70 g · l-1 ) and ethanol
• Insoluble in diethyl ether, benzene, carbon tetrachloride and petroleum ether

19500 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, rat, oral)

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Pentaerythritol ( according to IUPAC Nomenclature of 2,2- bis (hydroxymethyl ) -1,3 -propane -diol) is a 4 -valent alcohol. The prefix penta ( five) points to the 5 carbon atoms.

Production and representation

The industrial production is carried out by reaction of formaldehyde with acetaldehyde by triple aldol reaction followed by a crossed Cannizzaro reaction. It is carried out with a molar excess of formaldehyde, in order to avoid the formation of dipentaerythritol.

Physical Properties

Pentaerythritol is a white, crystalline powder with a sweet taste. It is not hygroscopic, flammable, moderately soluble in boiling water and well in cold water. It is slightly soluble in ethanol and is insoluble in benzene, carbon tetrachloride, ether and petroleum ether.

Chemical Properties

The four hydroxy groups go essentially typical of alcohols reactions such as esterification with acids. In the esterification of pentaerythritol with nitric acid, not quite correctly called nitration, there arises the pentaerythritol tetranitrate ( PETN ).

Use

PE is mainly used for the production of alkyd resins and plasticizers and emulsifiers, and additionally also for the preparation of explosives Pentaerythrittrinitrat and PETN ( pentaerythritol tetranitrate ).