Methyl butyrate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Methyl butyrate[1] | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name | Methyl butanoate |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | [623-42-7] |
| RTECS number | ET5500000 |
| SMILES | CCCC(=O)OC |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C5H10O2 |
| Molar mass | 102.13 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colourless liquid |
| Density | 898 kg/m³ |
| Melting point |
-95 °C (178K) |
| Boiling point |
102 °C (375K) |
| Solubility in water | 1.5 g/100 mL (22 °C) |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.385 |
| Hazards | |
| NFPA 704 | |
| Flash point | 12 °C |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
|
Methyl butyrate, also known under the systematic name methyl butanoate, is the methyl ester of butyric acid with a fruity odor resembling apples or pineapples. It is present in small amounts in several plant products, most noticeably pineapple oil. At room temperature, it is a colourless liquid with a low solubility in water, upon which it floats to form an oily layer.
It can be produced by distillation from essential oils of vegetable origin, but is also manufactured on a small scale for use in perfumes[2] and as a food flavouring, as well as being a component of biodiesel.[3]

