Chemical Properties
Colorless liquid.Insoluble in water. Combustible.
General Description
Colorless liquid with a mild alcohol odor. Floats on water.
Reactivity Profile
Isodecanol attacks plastics. REF [Handling Chemicals Safely, 1980. p. 236]. Acetyl bromide reacts violently with alcohols or water, [Merck 11th ed., 1989]. Mixtures of alcohols with concentrated sulfuric acid and strong hydrogen peroxide can cause explosions. Example: An explosion will occur if dimethylbenzylcarbinol is added to 90% hydrogen peroxide then acidified with concentrated sulfuric acid. Mixtures of ethyl alcohol with concentrated hydrogen peroxide form powerful explosives. Mixtures of hydrogen peroxide and 1-phenyl-2-methyl propyl alcohol tend to explode if acidified with 70% sulfuric acid, [Chem. Eng. News 45(43):73(1967); J, Org. Chem. 28:1893(1963)]. Alkyl hypochlorites are violently explosive. They are readily obtained by reacting hypochlorous acid and alcohols either in aqueous solution or mixed aqueous-carbon tetrachloride solutions. Chlorine plus alcohols would similarly yield alkyl hypochlorites. They decompose in the cold and explode on exposure to sunlight or heat. Tertiary hypochlorites are less unstable than secondary or primary hypochlorites, [NFPA 491 M, 1991]. Base-catalysed reactions of isocyanates with alcohols should be carried out in inert solvents. Such reactions in the absence of solvents often occur with explosive violence, [Wischmeyer(1969)].
Health Hazard
Direct contact with skin can produce irritation.
Production Methods
Isodecyl alcohol, or the C10 oxo alcohols, are made in the oxo
process by reacting nonenes with carbon monoxide and
hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst, followed by hydrogenation. The commercial product typically consists of
trimethyl-1-heptanols and dimethyl-1-octanols; the composition
and CAS registry number depend on the olefin feedstock.
Production Methods
Isodecyl alcohols are a mixture of alcohols produced by the
oxo process in which undecenes are reacted with carbon
monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst, followed
by hydrogenation . They are also prepared by
other processes, including the Ziegler process that involves
oxidation of trialklylaluminum compounds. Two of the
major isomers found in the commercial product are trimethyl-
1-nonanols and dimethyl-1-decanols; the composition
andCAS registry number depend on the olefin feedstock.
These alcohols are used in producing phthalates and in
detergents.
Chemical Reactivity
Reactivity with Water No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: No reactions; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Not pertinent; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not pertinent.