Benzyl acetate is an organic ester with the molecular formula CH3C(O)OCH2C6H5. It is formed by the condensation of benzyl alcohol and acetic acid.

Benzyl acetate
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Benzyl acetate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.004.909 Edit this at Wikidata
KEGG
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C9H10O2/c1-8(10)11-7-9-5-3-2-4-6-9/h2-6H,7H2,1H3 checkY
    Key: QUKGYYKBILRGFE-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C9H10O2/c1-8(10)11-7-9-5-3-2-4-6-9/h2-6H,7H2,1H3
    Key: QUKGYYKBILRGFE-UHFFFAOYAD
  • c1ccccc1COC(=O)C
  • CC(=O)OCc1ccccc1
Properties
CH3C(O)OCH2C6H5
Molar mass 150.18 g/mol
Appearance Colourless liquid
Odor floral
Density 1.054 g/ml
Melting point −51.5 °C (−60.7 °F; 221.7 K)
Boiling point 212 °C (414 °F; 485 K)
0.31 g/100 mL
Solubility Soluble in benzene, chloroform
Miscible with ethanol, ether, acetone
-93.18·10−6 cm3/mol
1.523
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 1: Exposure would cause irritation but only minor residual injury. E.g. turpentineFlammability 1: Must be pre-heated before ignition can occur. Flash point over 93 °C (200 °F). E.g. canola oilInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
1
1
0
Flash point 102 °C (216 °F; 375 K)
461 °C (862 °F; 734 K)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Similar to most other esters, it possesses a sweet and pleasant aroma, owing to which, it finds applications in personal hygiene and health care products. It is a constituent of jasmin and of the essential oils of ylang-ylang and neroli. It has pleasant sweet aroma reminiscent of jasmine. Further as a flavoring agent it is also used to impart jasmine or apple flavors to various cosmetics and personal care products like lotions, hair creams etc..[1]

It is one of many compounds that is attractive to males of various species of orchid bees. It is collected and used by the bees as an intra-specific pheromone; In apiculture benzyl acetate is used as a bait to collect bees. Natural sources of benzyl acetate include varieties of flowers like jasmine (Jasminum), and fruits like pear, apple, etc.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Benzyl acetate". The Good Scents Company.
  2. ^ Schiestl, F.P. & Roubik, D.W. (2004). "Odor Compound Detection in Male Euglossine Bees". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 29 (1): 253–257. doi:10.1023/A:1021932131526. hdl:20.500.11850/57276. PMID 12647866. S2CID 2845587.
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