2-Ethylhexanol (abbreviated 2-EH) is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH3CH2CH2CH2CH(CH2CH3)CH2OH. It is a branched, eight-carbon chiral alcohol. It is a colorless liquid that is poorly soluble in water but soluble in most organic solvents. It is produced on a large scale (>2,000,000,000 kg/y) for use in numerous applications such as solvents, flavors, and fragrances and especially as a precursor for production of other chemicals such as emollients and plasticizers.[3] It is encountered in plants, fruits, and wines.[4][5] The odor has been reported as "heavy, earthy, and slightly floral" for the R enantiomer and "a light, sweet floral fragrance" for the S enantiomer.[6][7]
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| Names | |
|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name
2-Ethylhexan-1-ol[1] | |
| Other names
isooctyl alcohol, 2-ethylhexanol | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
|
| 1719280 | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.002.941 |
| EC Number |
|
| KEGG | |
| MeSH | 2-ethylhexanol |
PubChem CID |
|
| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
|
| |
| |
| Properties | |
| CH3CH2CH2CH2CH(CH2CH3)CH2OH | |
| Molar mass | 130.231 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | Colourless liquid |
| Density | 833 mg/mL |
| Melting point | −76 °C (−105 °F; 197 K) |
| Boiling point | 180 to 186 °C; 356 to 367 °F; 453 to 459 K |
| log P | 2.721 |
| Vapor pressure | 30 Pa (at 20 °C) |
Refractive index (nD) |
1.431 |
| Thermochemistry | |
Heat capacity (C) |
317.5 J/(K·mol) |
Std molar entropy (S⦵298) |
347.0 J/(K·mol) |
Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) |
−433.67–−432.09 kJ/mol |
Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) |
−5.28857–−5.28699 MJ/mol |
| Hazards | |
| Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |
Main hazards |
Mildly toxic |
| GHS labelling: | |
 | |
| Danger | |
| H302, H312, H315, H318, H335 | |
| P261, P280, P305+P351+P338 | |
| Flash point | 81 °C (178 °F; 354 K) |
| 290 °C (554 °F; 563 K) | |
| Explosive limits | 0.88–9.7% |
| Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |
LD50 (median dose) |
|
| NIOSH (US health exposure limits): | |
PEL (Permissible) |
none[2] |
REL (Recommended) |
TWA 50 ppm (270 mg/m3) (skin)[2] |
IDLH (Immediate danger) |
N.D.[2] |
| Related compounds | |
Related alkanol |
Propylheptyl alcohol |
Related compounds |
|
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Properties and applications
The branching in 2-ethylhexanol inhibits crystallization. Esters of 2-ethylhexanol are similarly affected, which together with low volatility, is the basis of applications in the production of plasticizers and lubricants, where its presence helps reduce viscosity and lower freezing points. Because 2-ethylhexanol is a fatty alcohol, its esters have emollient properties. Representative is the diester bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), commonly used in PVC. The triester tris (2-Ethylhexyl) trimellitate (TOTM) is another common plasticizer produced via the esterification of three 2-ethylhexanol per trimellitic acid.
It is also commonly used as a low volatility solvent. The nitrate ester of 2-Ethylhexanol is also used as a cetane improver for diesel fuel. It also used to react with epichlorohydrin and sodium hydroxide to produce 2-Ethylhexyl glycidyl ether which is then used as an epoxy reactive diluent in various coatings, adhesives and sealants applications. It can be used in the development of photos, production of rubber and extraction of oil and gas.[8]
Industrial production
2-Ethylhexanol is produced industrially by the aldol condensation of n-butyraldehyde, followed by hydrogenation of the resulting hydroxyaldehyde. About 2,500,000 tons are prepared in this way annually.[9][10]
The n-butyraldehyde is made by hydroformylation of propylene, either in a self-contained plant or as the first step in a fully integrated facility. Most facilities make n-butanol and isobutanol in addition to 2-ethylhexanol. Alcohols prepared in this way are sometimes referred to as oxo alcohols. The overall process is very similar to that of the Guerbet reaction, by which it may also be produced.[11]
Health effects
2-Ethylhexanol exhibits low toxicity in animal models, with LD50 ranging from 2-3 g/kg (rat).[3] 2-Ethylhexanol has been identified as a cause of indoor air quality related health problems, such as respiratory system irritation, as a volatile organic compound. 2-Ethylhexanol is emitted to air from a PVC flooring installed on concrete that had not been dried properly.[12][13]
2-Ethylhexanol has been linked to developmental toxicity (increased incidence of skeletal malformations in fetuses).[14] This is thought to be a result of metabolism of 2-ethylhexanol into 2-ethylhexanoic acid via oxidation of the primary alcohol.[15][16] The teratogenicity of 2-ethylhexanoic acid, as well as similar substances such as valproic acid, has been well established.[17][18][19][20][21]
Nomenclature
Although isooctanol (and the derived isooctyl prefix) is commonly used in industry to refer to 2-ethylhexanol and its derivatives, IUPAC naming conventions[22] dictate that this name is properly applied to another isomer of octanol, 6-methylheptan-1-ol. The Chemical Abstracts Service likewise indexes isooctanol (CAS# 26952-21-6) as 6-methylheptan-1-ol.
See also
References
External links
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