Benzyl alcohol

Toxicity

1250 mg/kg (rat, oral) LD50 400 mg/kg IPR-RAT LD50 2000 mg/kg SKN-RBT LD50 53 mg/kg IVN-RAT LD50 2500 mg/kg ORL-GPG LD50

Description

Benzyl alcohol is a component catalyst for epoxy resins. It is also contained in the color developer C-22.

The Uses of Benzyl alcohol

benzyl alcohol is a preservative against bacteria, used in concentrations of 1 to 3 percent. It can cause skin irritation.

The Uses of Benzyl alcohol

To a solution of the alcohol (A) (86 mg, 482 umol) in anhydrous THF (5 mL) at RT was added NaH (60% dispersion on mineral oil, 21 mg, 526 umol), and the mixture was stirred at RT for 15 min. The aryl chloride (B) (150 mg, 439 umol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at RT for 45 min, then 80 C for 2 h. H2O and sat aq NaHCO3 were added and the mixture was extracted with EtOAc, washed with brine, dried (Na2SO4), and concentrated. The resulting material was purified by silica gel column chromatography (0-25% EtOAc/cyclohexane) to provide the product. [137 mg]

Indications

Ulesfia (benzyl alcohol) lotion is indicated for the topical treatment of head lice infestation in patients 6 months of age and older. Ulesfia Lotion does not have ovicidal activity.

Background

Benzyl alcohol is a monoaromatic primary alcohol widely used as a solvent and as an intermediate in cosmetic formulations, pharmaceutical and flavor/fragrance industries. It is capable of forming an intramolecular OH-π hydrogen bond and it exists in gauche cis conformation around the alcoholic group.

Applications

Benzyl alcohol can undergo a reaction with triethyl phosphite and zinc iodide to yield the corresponding phosphonates. Additionally, it serves as a precursor in the synthesis of benzyl bromoacetate, achieved by its reaction with bromoacetyl bromide in the presence of sodium hydrogen carbonate.
Benzyl Alcohol is an aromatic alcohol used in a wide variety of cosmetic formulations as a fragrance component, preservative, solvent, and viscosity-decreasing agent.

Safety

Benzyl Alcohol was considered safe up to 10% for use in hair dyes. The limited body exposure, the duration of use, and the frequency of use were considered in concluding that the nonimmunologic reactions would not be a concern. Because of the wide variety of product types in which these ingredients may be used, it is likely that inhalation may be a route of exposure.