1-Pentene

Chemical Properties

1-Pentene, C5H10, is a flammable liquid with specific gravity 0.641. It occurs in coal tar and in petroleum cracking mixtures, and polymerizes on extended periods of storage (15, 320).

Physical properties

Clear, colorless, volatile, very flammable liquid with a disagreeable odor. An odor threshold concentration of 10 ppb_v was determined by a triangular odor bag method (Nagata and Takeuchi, 1990).

Uses

Blending agent for high octane motor fuel; organic synthesis.

Uses

1-Pentene is used in the preparation of d-xylitol, l-arabinitol and hydrazones of substituted salicylaldehydes. It is also used as a blending agent for of high-octane gasoline. It reacts with p-toluenesulfinate to yield 1-(2-iodo-pentane-1-sulfonyl)-4-methyl-benzene. It is also involved in Gas Chromatography and Liquid Chromatography analysis.

Production Methods

1-Pentene is prepared from allyl bromide and ethyl magnesium bromide in ether or in dipropyl ether.

General Description

Colorless liquid with an odor of gasoline. Flash point -20°F(Aldrich). Insoluble in water and less dense than water. Hence floats on water. Flammable vapor is produced. Boiling point 86°F.

Air & Water Reactions

Highly flammable. Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

1-Pentene may react vigorously with strong oxidizing agents. May react exothermically with reducing agents to release hydrogen gas. May undergo exothermic polymerization reactions in the presence of various catalysts (such as acids) or initiators.

Health Hazard

Acts as a simple asphyxiant or weak anesthetic in high vapor concentrations. Similar to effects caused by gasoline vapors.

Fire Hazard

Behavior in Fire: Containers may explode in fire.

Chemical Reactivity

Reactivity with Water No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: No reaction; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Not pertinent; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not pertinent.

Potential Exposure

Workers in petroleum refineries and petrochemical plants.

Source

Schauer et al. (2001) measured organic compound emission rates for volatile organic compounds, gas-phase semi-volatile organic compounds, and particle-phase organic compounds from the residential (fireplace) combustion of pine, oak, and eucalyptus. The gas-phase emission rate of 1-pentene was 8.6 mg/kg of pine burned. Emission rates of 1-pentene were not measured during the combustion of oak and eucalyptus.
California Phase II reformulated gasoline contained 1-pentene at a concentration of 1.48 g/kg. Gas-phase tailpipe emission rates from gasoline-powered automobiles with and without catalytic converters were 0.40 and 51.8 mg/km, respectively (Schauer et al., 2002).

Environmental Fate

Biological. Biooxidation of 1-pentene may occur yielding 4-penten-1-ol, which may oxidize to give 4-pentenoic acid (Dugan, 1972). Washed cell suspensions of bacteria belonging to the genera Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Xanthobacter, and Pseudomonas and growing on selected alkenes metabolized 1-pentene to 1,2-epoxypentane. Mycobacterium sp., growing on ethene, hydrolyzed 1,2-epoxypropane to 1,2-propanediol (Van Ginkel et al., 1987).
Photolytic. The following rate constants were reported for the reaction of 1-pentene and OH radicals in the atmosphere: 1.8 x 10^-13 cm³/molecule?sec at 300 K (Hendry and Kenley, 1979); 3.14 x 10^-11 cm³/molecule?sec (Atkinson, 1990). Atkinson (1990) also reported a photooxidation rate constant of 1.10 x 10^-17 cm³/molecule?sec for the reaction of 1-pentene and ozone.
Chemical/Physical. Complete combustion in air yields carbon dioxide and water.

Shipping

UN1108 1-Pentene, Hazard Class: 3; Labels: 3-Flammable liquid

Incompatibilities

Vapors may form explosive mixture with air. Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions. Excessive heat may cause polymerization. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides, heat. Incompatible with strong reducing agents such as hydrides; oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides.

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.