Propyl butyrate

Chemical properties

Clear colorless liquid

Chemical properties

Propyl butyrate has a pineapple and apricot-like odor with a sweet, fruity flavor of banana and pineapple. The odor is also described as sharp, pungent, rancid, sweaty and sickening.

Occurrence

Reported found in fresh apple, cooked apple, apricot, banana, lemon papaya, Camembert cheese, Gruyere de Comte cheese, provolone cheese, purple passion fruit juice, apple juice, rum, fresh plums, jack fruit, ceriman or pinanona (Monstera deliciosa Liebm.), papaya, spineless monkey orange, starfruit, kiwifruit, wood apple and cherimoya.

The Uses of Propyl butyrate

Solvent mixture for cellulose ethers.

Preparation

From propyl alcohol and butyric acid in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid in benzene solution at the boil.

Definition

ChEBI: Propyl butyrate is a butyrate ester resulting from the formal condensation of the hydroxy group of propanol with the carboxy group of butyric acid. It has a role as a human metabolite, a plant metabolite and an insect attractant. It is functionally related to a propan-1-ol.

Aroma threshold values

Detection: 0.8 to 124 ppb

Taste threshold values

Taste characteristics at 20 ppm: sweet, fruity, tutti-frutti, bubble gum and pineapple-like, with a slight green nuance.

Synthesis Reference(s)

The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 58, p. 6421, 1993 DOI: 10.1021/jo00075a043

General Description

Natural Occurrence: Apple, banana, kiwi, melon, papaya, passion fruit, rum and strawberry.

Hazard

Irritant to mucous membranes, narcotic in high concentration.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Taste at 20 ppm