Chemical Properties
Methyl phenylacetate is a clear colorless liquid that is only slightly soluble in water, but very soluble in most organic solvents. It has a strong odor similar to honey. The odor is so strong that recommended smelling is of a solution with 10% or less methyl phenyl acetate. This compound also naturally occurs in brandy, capsicum, coffee, honey, pepper and some wine.
Occurrence
Reported found in cocoa, coffee, strawberry, pineapple, pepper, hop oil, cognac, peanut, honey, starfruit,
Bourbon vanilla, mountain papaya, roasted chicory root and rooibus tea (Aspalathus linearis).
Uses
Methyl phenylacetate is utilized for partition coefficient measurement experiments. It is mainly used in the flavor industry and in perfumes to impart honey scents. Further, it acts as a precursor to prepare synthetic perfumes. It acts as an acylating agent and involved in the enantioselective acylation of beta-lactam intermediate using penicillin G amidase.
Application
Methyl Phenylacetate is used as a reagent in the synthesis of various organic reactions, one of which is the synthesis of Vulpinic Acid; a lichen metabolite with anti-inflammatory properties. It is also used in the formulation of edible flavors, for the preparation of honey, chocolate, tobacco and other flavors; it can also be used in daily chemical flavors for the preparation of rose, oriental flavors and other flavors. IFRA has no restrictions.
Preparation
Methyl phenylacetate is synthesized from phenylacetonitrile by hydrolysis and esterification. Put methanol into a dry glass-lined reaction pot, stir and cool to below 30°C, add sulfuric acid dropwise, heat up to 90°C after adding, and start adding phenylacetonitrile dropwise, control the temperature at about 95°C, and finish adding in 1.5h. After reacting at 95-100 °C for 6 h, it was cooled to below 40 °C and diluted with water equivalent to about 0.6 times the reaction solution. The acid water was separated by standing, and a saturated sodium carbonate solution was added for neutralization and washing, and the aqueous layer was discarded. It is dehydrated with anhydrous calcium chloride and fractionated under reduced pressure to obtain methyl phenylacetate with a yield of 80%.
Definition
ChEBI: Methyl benzeneacetate is a member of benzenes. It is a flavoring ingredient. Odoriferous constituent of many plants. It is generally found in brandy, capsicum, honey, pepper, some wine, coca and coca products.
Aroma threshold values
Detection: 25 ppb
Taste threshold values
Taste characteristics at 30 ppm: floral, fruity, honey, spice, waxy and sweet
General Description
Methyl phenylacetate has been identified in the volatile fraction of beewax absolute oil, dried fruiting bodies of
Boletus auripes, Chinese fermented black soybeans and peated malt.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Methyl phenylacetate undergoes decomposition on photolysis in methanol. Methyl phenylacetate acts as acylating agent and causes the enantioselective acylation of beta-lactam intermediate using penicillin G amidase. Methyl phenylacetate is the starting material in manufacture of synthetic perfumes.
Safety Profile
Moderately toxic by
ingestion and skin contact. A skin irritant.
Combustible liquid. When heated to
decomposition it emits acrid smoke and
irritating fumes. See also ESTERS.
