Chemical Properties
The enantiomers and the racemate occur in many essential oils (e.g., Siberian pine-needle oil and cypress oil), but generally not as the main component. Pure Terpinyl acetate are colorless liquids with a fresh bergamot–lavender odor. Commercially available terpinyl acetate consists mainly of alpha-terpinyl acetate, but also contains a number of other isomeric compounds such as beta-terpinyl acetate. It can be prepared by acetylating the terpineol mixture obtained from terpin hydrate, using a customary procedure for tertiary alcohols.
Because of its odor properties, stability, and low price, large quantities of terpinyl acetate are used in perfumery for lavender and bergamot types, as well as in essential oil reconstitutions.
Physical properties
Terpinyl acetate is a p-menthane monoterpenoid that naturally found in melanoleuca, elettaria cardamomum. It is a colorless liquid with a bergamot, bergamot odor. Soluble in five or more volumes of 70% alcohol; slightly soluble in water and glycerol. Combustible.
Occurrence
Reported in over 40 essential oils, including cypress, Malabar cardamom, cajeput niaouli, Siberian pine needles, pine, Melaleuca trichostachya, Melaleuca pauciflora and others; also identified in the essential oils of bitter orange (Fenarolfs Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, 1971 ; Gildemeister & Hoffman, 1966). Terpinyl Acetate is found in Pine oil, Cajeput oil, Pine needle oil, Cardamom oil and other essential oils.
Uses
Perfumes, flavoring agent.
Definition
ChEBI: Alpha-Terpinyl acetate is a p-menthane monoterpenoid.
Preparation
Terpinyl acetate was successfully synthesized from (x-terpineol and acetic anhydride in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-C02) by enzymatic catalysis.
By acetylation of a-terpineol or mixed isomeric terpineols (Bedoukian, 1967).
General Description
Α-Terpinyl acetate, a monoterpene ester, is a commercially important fragrance molecule. It can be prepared from α-pinene in the presence of H-beta zeolite catalysts. The essential oils obtained from
Stachys setifera ssp.
iranica,
Chamaecyparis obtuse leaves and
Thymus willkomii contain Α-terpinyl acetate as one of the main components.
Flammability and Explosibility
Non flammable
Safety Profile
Mildly toxic by ingestion. Combustible liquid. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.
