Chemical Properties
clear colourless to pale yellowish liquid
Chemical Properties
Ethyl phenylacetate has a pleasant, strong, sweet odor suggestive of honey and a bittersweet flavor.
Chemical Properties
Ethyl Phenylacetate is a volatile aroma component of fruit and honey.
It is a colorless liquid with a strong, sweet odor reminiscent of honey. Small
amounts are used in flower perfumes and in fruit flavors.
Occurrence
Reported found in grapefruit juice, apple juice, figs, guava, pineapple, papaya, cognac, cider, grape wines and
port wine.
Definition
ChEBI: Ethyl phenylacetate is a member of benzenes. It is a less toxic, greener solvent. It is non-mutagenic.
Preparation
By heating at the boil phenylacetonitrile and sulfuric acid in alcohol solution; by esterification of the acid catalyzed by
HCl or H2SO4
Aroma threshold values
Detection: 650 ppb
Taste threshold values
Taste characteristics at 10 ppm: sweet, fruity, honey, cocoa, apple and woody
General Description
Ethyl phenylacetate is a less toxic, greener solvent. It is non-mutagenic.
Flammability and Explosibility
Nonflammable
Biochem/physiol Actions
Taste at 5 to 10 ppm
Purification Methods
Shake the ester with saturated aqueous Na2CO3 (three times), aqueous 50% CaCl2 (twice) and saturated aqueous NaCl (twice). Dry with CaCl2 and distil it under reduced pressure. [Beilstein 9 H 434, 9 IV 1618.]
