General Description
A crystalline solid or a solid dissolved in a liquid. Denser than water. Contact may slightly irritate skin, eyes and mucous membranes. May be slightly toxic by ingestion. Used to make other chemicals.
Reactivity Profile
METHYL BENZOATE(93-58-3) 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. This compound reacts with strong oxidizing agents and strong bases and hydrolyzes slowly in contact with water. .
Air & Water Reactions
Slightly soluble in water. Hydrolyzes slowly in contact with water .
Hazard
Toxic by ingestion.
Health Hazard
Irritating to the eyes, nose, throat, upper respiratory tract, and skin. May cause allegic skin and respiratory reactions.
Potential Exposure
Used as food additive and as a solvent
for cellulose esters and ethers, resins and rubber.
Fire Hazard
Special Hazards of Combustion Products: None
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any
contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least
15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek
medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the
skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately
with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately.
If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure,
begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if
heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical
facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce
vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit. Note
to Physician: Inhalation: Bronchodialators, decongestants
and oxygen may be used if necessary. Corticosteroids are
useful for treating pneumonitis.
Description
Methyl benzoate is an organic compound. It is an ester with the chemical formula C6H5CO2CH3. It is a colorless liquid that is poorly soluble in water, but miscible with organic solvents. Methyl benzoate has a pleasant smell, strongly reminiscent of the fruit of the feijoa tree, and it is used in perfumery. It also finds use as a solvent and as a pesticide used to attract insects such as orchid bees.
Chemical Properties
Methyl Benzoate has been found in essential oils (e.g., ylang-ylang oil). It is a colorless liquid with a strong, dry-fruity, slightly phenolic odor. Methyl benzoate can be converted simply into other benzoates by transesterification. Since methyl benzoate is a fairly large by-product in the manufacture of Terylene, earlier synthetic routes such as those starting from benzoic acid or benzoyl chloride have largely been abandoned.
Waste Disposal
Dissolve or mix the material
with a combustible solvent and burn in a chemical incinerator equipped with an afterburner and scrubber. All federal,
state, and local environmental regulations must be
observed.
Physical properties
Methyl benzoate is a colorless, oily, transparent, liquid that has a pleasant fruity odor, similar to cananga. miscible with ether, soluble in methanol and ether, insoluble in water and glycerol. It is used in perfume bases, such as ylang-ylang and tuberose types.
Occurrence
Methyl benzoate can be isolated from the freshwater fern Salvinia molesta. It is one of many compounds that is attractive to males of various species of orchid bees, which apparently gather the chemical to synthesize pheromones; it is commonly used as bait to attract and collect these bees for study.
Cocaine hydrochloride hydrolyzes in moist air to give methyl benzoate; drug - sniffing dogs are thus trained to detect the smell of methyl benzoate.
Uses
Methyl benzoate is used in perfumery. It also finds use as a solvent. It acts as an intermediate and odor agents. Further, it is used to attract insects such as orchid bees. It is also used for cellulose esters, cellulose ethers, synthetic resin and rubber solvent and polyester fibers to assist in the preparation of flavor.
Application
Methyl benzoate is a volatile aromatic ester compound widely used in perfumery industries. It is naturally occurring in guava, mango, and kiwifruit. It is one of many compounds that is attractive to males of various species of orchid bees, who apparently gather the chemical to synthesize pheromones. It can also be utilized as a precursor for:
Selective synthesis of benzaldehyde using supported manganese oxide catalysts.
Preparation of benzophenone derivatives by reacting with aryl compounds via Friedel-Crafts acylation.
Definition
ChEBI: A benzoate ester obtained by condensation of benzoic acid and methanol.
Preparation
By heating benzoic acid and dimethyl sulfate to high temperature, or by exchange between ethyl benzoate and methanol
in KOH solution.
Production Methods
The compound is manufactured by heating methanol and
benzoic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid or by passing dry
hydrogen chloride through a solution of benzoic acid in
methanol . It may also be produced by the alcoholysis
of benzonitrile . It is a by-product of ozonolysis of
water .
Reactions
Aromatic
carboxylic esters may be reduced to produce the corresponding primary
alcohol by electrolysis at a mercury, lead or cadmium cathode. For example, methyl benzoate is readily reduced to benzyl alcohol (91%) at a mercury cathode in MeOH containing Me4NCl.
Aroma threshold values
Detection: 110 ppb
Taste threshold values
Taste characteristics at 30 ppm: phenolic and cherry pit with a camphoraceous nuance.
Synthesis
Methyl benzoate is formed by the condensation of methanol and benzoic acid, in presence of a strong acid such as hydrochloric acid . It reacts both at the ring and the ester. Illustrative of its ability to undergo electrophilic substitution, methyl benzoate undergoes acidcatalysed nitration with nitric acid to give methyl 3-nitrobenzoate. It also undergoes hydrolysis with addition of aqueous NaOH to give methanol and sodium benzoate, which can be acidified with aqueous HCl to form benzoic acid.
storage
Color Code—Red: Flammability Hazard: Store in a flammable liquid storage area or approved cabinet away from ignition sources and corrosive and reactive materials. Prior to working with methyl benzoate you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from strong Methyl benzoate 1761 acids, strong bases, oxidizers, nitrates. Where possible, automatically pump liquid from drums or other storage containers to process containers. Drums must be equipped with selfclosing valves, pressure vacuum bungs, and flame arresters. Use only nonsparking tools and equipment, especially when opening and closing containers of this chemical. Wherever this chemical is used, handled, manufactured, or stored, use explosion-proof electrical equipment and fittings.
Shipping
Methyl benzoate requires a shipping label of “POISONOUS/TOXIC MATERIALS.” It falls in Hazard Class 6.1 and Packing Group III
Purification Methods
Wash the ester with dilute aqueous NaHCO3, then water, dry with Na2SO4 and fractionally distil it in a vacuum. [Beilstein 9 IV 283.]
Incompatibilities
Incompatible with strong acids, strong bases, nitrates, oxidizers.
Toxics Screening Level
The initial threshold screening level (ITSL) for methyl benzoate is being set at 4 μg/m3 with annual averaging.
