General Description
A clear colorless liquid. Flash point 64°F. Less dense than water. Vapors heavier than air.
Reactivity Profile
N-BUTYL FORMATE(592-84-7) is an ester. Esters react with acids to liberate heat along with alcohols and acids. Strong oxidizing acids may cause a vigorous reaction that is sufficiently exothermic to ignite the reaction products. Heat is also generated by the interaction of esters with caustic solutions. Flammable hydrogen is generated by mixing esters with alkali metals and hydrides. Can generate electrostatic charges [Handling Chemicals Safely 1980. p. 247].
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Slightly soluble in water.
Hazard
Narcotic and irritating in high concentra-
tion. Flammable, dangerous fire risk.
Health Hazard
Exposure can cause irritation of eyes, nose and throat. High concentrations have a narcotic effect.
Chemical Properties
Butyl formate has a fruity, plum-like odor and corresponding taste.
Chemical Properties
CLEAR COLORLESS TO YELLOWISH LIQUID
Occurrence
Reported found in fresh apple, strawberry fruit, cloudberry, sherry and Parmesan cheese.
Definition
ChEBI: Butyl formate is a formate ester resulting from the formal condensation of formic acid with the hydroxy group of butan-1-ol. Found in apples, strawberries, sherry and Pamesan cheese, it has a fruity, plum-like odour and taste. It has a role as a polar aprotic solvent, a flavouring agent and a fragrance. It is functionally related to a butan-1-ol.
Preparation
By azeotropic distillation of formic acid and n-butyl alcohol with isopropyl formate; by boiling n-butyl alcohol and formamide
in the presence on ZnCl, ZnSo4 or HgCl2.
Aroma threshold values
Detection: 800 ppb to 6 ppm
Purification Methods
Wash the formate with saturated NaHCO3 solution in the presence of saturated NaCl, until no further reaction occurs, then with saturated NaCl solution, dry (MgSO4), filter and fractionally distil the filtrate. [Beilstein 2 IV 28.]
