ε-Caprolactone Chemical Properties

Melting point:

-1 °C

Boiling point:

96-97.5 °C10 mm Hg(lit.)

Density 

1.03 g/mL at 25 °C(lit.)

vapor density 

3.9 (vs air)

vapor pressure 

0.01 mm Hg ( 20 °C)

refractive index 

n20/D 1.463(lit.)

Flash point:

229 °F

storage temp. 

Store below +30°C.

solubility 

Chloroform, Ethyl Acetate

form 

Liquid

color 

Clear colorless, yellowing on aging

explosive limit

1.2-9%(V)

Water Solubility 

>1000 MG/L (20 ºC)

BRN 

106919

InChIKey

PAPBSGBWRJIAAV-UHFFFAOYSA-N

LogP

0.32 at 20℃

CAS DataBase Reference

502-44-3(CAS DataBase Reference)

NIST Chemistry Reference

2-Oxepanone(502-44-3)

EPA Substance Registry System

2-Oxepanone (502-44-3)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

Xi

Risk Statements 

37/38-41-36/38

Safety Statements 

26-39-37/39

WGK Germany 

2

RTECS 

MO8400000

Autoignition Temperature

204 °C

TSCA 

Yes

HS Code 

29322090

Hazardous Substances Data

502-44-3(Hazardous Substances Data)

Toxicity

LD50 orally in Rabbit: > 2000 mg/kg LD50 dermal Rabbit 5990 mg/kg

MSDS

• Language:English Provider:SigmaAldrich
• Language:English Provider:ACROS
• Language:English Provider:ALFA

ε-Caprolactone Usage And Synthesis

Chemical Properties

Clear colorless liquid, yellowing on ageing

Uses

Intermediate in adhesives, urethane coatings, and elastomers; solvent; diluent for epoxy resins; synthetic fibers; organic synthesis.

Uses

ε-Caprolactone is widely used as a monomer in the manufacturing of highly specialized polymers. It is mainly utilized as a precursor to caprolactam. It finds an application in the synthesis of polyglecaprone, which is used as a suture material in surgery.

Uses

ε-caprolactone is popularly used in the preparation of poly caprolactone (PCL).

Definition

ChEBI: A epsilon-lactone that is oxepane substituted by an oxo group at position 2.

Synthesis Reference(s)

Journal of the American Chemical Society, 80, p. 4079, 1958 DOI: 10.1021/ja01548a063
The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 61, p. 4560, 1996 DOI: 10.1021/jo952237x
Tetrahedron Letters, 17, p. 2455, 1976 DOI: 10.1016/0040-4039(76)90018-6

General Description

ε-caprolactone is a cyclic ester. Ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone initiated by, tributylin n butoxide, ethyl magnesium bromide, or samarium acetate or heteropolyacid, leads to the formation of poly caprolactone (PCL).

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

ε-Caprolactone(502-44-3)Related Product Information

• Spironolactone
• Dodecyl acrylate
• Styrene
• D-(+)-Glucono-1,5-lactone
• γ-Valerolactone
• Gibberellin A4
• PICROTOXIN
• DL-CAMPHORIC ANHYDRIDE
• PICROTOXININ
• Polycaprolactone
• (1R,3S)-(-)-CAMPHORIC ANHYDRIDE
• Cyclobutane-1,2,3,4-tetracarboxylic dianhydride
• Nomilin
• 22(S),23(S)-HOMOBRASSINOLIDE
• Brassinolide
• POLYCAPROLACTONE-BLOCK-POLYTETRAHYDROFURAN-BLOCK-POLYCAPROLACTONE
• 7-BUTYL-2-OXEPANONE
• heteratisine