Colorless Transparent Liquid. n-Butyl glycolate is a
colorless liquid, which is miscible with most
organic solvents. The solubility in water is
limited to 8 wt % (20 C), although the compound itself may contain up to 25 wt % water.
Butyl glycolate may be used in the preparation of N-(α-hydroxyacetyl)-(S)-isoleucine. n-Butyl glycolate is used primarily as a varnish additive, valued because of its
low volatility. Trade names include PolysolvanO (Hoechst) and GB-Ester (Wacker). It confers
smooth spreading properties and high gloss on
nitrocellulose varnish. For acetyl cellulose, it is
effective as a blush inhibitor under conditions of
high humidity. Due to its good blending properties, n-butyl glycolate is also used as an additive
in alkyd resins and oil-based paints.
n-Butyl glycolate is produced
by treatment of sodium chloroacetate with nbutyl alcohol at 125 – 160℃, followed by vacuum distillation.
Butyl glycolate is a glycolic acid derivative.
Dissolve in CHCl3 (EtOH-free), wash with 5% KHCO3 until effervescence ceases (if free acid is present), dry over CaCl2, filter, evaporate and distil through a short column. [B.hme & Opfer Z Anal Chem 139 255 1953, Filachione et al. J Am Chem Soc 73 5265 1951, Beilstein 3 IV 589.]
