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.
Reported found in fresh apple, apple juice, apricot, banana and orange juice.
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.
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.
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.
Detection: 700 ppb to 10 ppm
Taste characteristics at 10 ppm: fruity, pineapple, green, waxy, tutti-frutti with a slight fermented fruit note.
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.
Low toxicity by
ingestion and skin contact. A skin irritant.
When heated to decomposition it emits
acrid smoke and irritating fumes.
