Chemical Properties
Colorless liquid. B.P. 208°C. Sp.Gr. 0.862.
Very slightly soluble in water, soluble in
alcohol and oils.
Heavy vinous-fruity odor, reminiscent of
overripe Pineapple, yet pleasant in high dilution.
Occurrence
Reported found in fresh apple, apple juice, apricot, banana and orange juice.
Uses
Butyl Hexanoate is used in preparation of low viscosity and high flammability ester synthetic oil.
Sweet fruity Pineapple-like taste in aqueous
media.
Used in flavor compositions for imitation
Butter, Pineapple, Rum, and in Butterscotch
type flavor, etc. Concentrations are usually about 10 ppm
in the finished product.
Definition
ChEBI: Butyl hexanoate is a hexanoate ester obtained by the formal condensation of the carboxy group of hexanoic acid (caproic acid) with butan-1-ol. It is a volatile compound found in apples and peaches. It has a role as a flavouring agent, a human metabolite, a plant metabolite and an insect attractant. It is a hexanoate ester and a volatile organic compound. It is functionally related to a butan-1-ol.
Preparation
By esterification of hexanoic acid with n-butyl alcohol in benzene solution in the presence of p-toluene sulfonic acid; it is
also formed in the fermentation of carbohydrates yielding n-butyl alcohol and acetone.
Aroma threshold values
Detection: 700 ppb to 10 ppm
Taste threshold values
Taste characteristics at 10 ppm: fruity, pineapple, green, waxy, tutti-frutti with a slight fermented fruit note.
Synthesis Reference(s)
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 79, p. 4759, 1957
DOI: 10.1021/ja01574a045
General Description
Butyl hexanoate is an aliphatic ester that can be used as a flavoring agent. It is one of the main volatile compounds found in apples. Along with red sticky sphere traps, butyl hexanoate can also act as an odor lure for apple maggot flies.
Safety Profile
Low toxicity by
ingestion and skin contact. A skin irritant.
When heated to decomposition it emits
acrid smoke and irritating fumes.
