2-Ethylhexanol Chemical Properties

Melting point:

−76 °C(lit.)

Boiling point:

183-186 °C(lit.)

Density 

0.833 g/mL at 25 °C(lit.)

vapor density 

4.49 (vs air)

vapor pressure 

0.2 mm Hg ( 20 °C)

refractive index 

n20/D 1.431(lit.)

FEMA 

3151 | 2-ETHYL-1-HEXANOL

Flash point:

171 °F

storage temp. 

Store below +30°C.

solubility 

Water

form 

Liquid

pka

15.05±0.10(Predicted)

color 

Clear

PH

7 (1g/l, H2O, 20℃)

Odor

sweet.

Odor Threshold

0.013ppm

Odor Type

citrus

explosive limit

0.88%, 104°F

Water Solubility 

1 g/L (20 ºC)

JECFA Number

267

Merck 

14,3808

BRN 

1719280

Dielectric constant

3.4（18℃）

Stability:

Stable. Combustible. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, strong acids.

InChIKey

YIWUKEYIRIRTPP-UHFFFAOYSA-N

LogP

2.9 at 25℃

CAS DataBase Reference

104-76-7(CAS DataBase Reference)

NIST Chemistry Reference

1-Hexanol, 2-ethyl-(104-76-7)

EPA Substance Registry System

2-Ethylhexanol (104-76-7)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

Xn,Xi

Risk Statements 

37/38-41-36-21-52/53-36/37/38-20

Safety Statements 

26-36/39-36/37/39-36-61

WGK Germany 

2

RTECS 

MP0350000

Autoignition Temperature

550 °F

TSCA 

Yes

HS Code 

29051610

HS Code 

29339990

Hazardous Substances Data

104-76-7(Hazardous Substances Data)

Toxicity

LD50 orally in Rabbit: 3730 mg/kg LD50 dermal Rat > 3000 mg/kg

MSDS

• Language:English Provider:2-Ethyl-1-hexanol
• Language:English Provider:SigmaAldrich
• Language:English Provider:ACROS
• Language:English Provider:ALFA

2-Ethylhexanol Usage And Synthesis

Description

2-Ethylhexanol, also known as 2-Ethylhexan-1-ol, abbreviated as 2-EH, is a branched eight-carbon alcohol. In industry, 2-EH is mainly used to make ester plasticizers, which can be used to produce soft polyvinyl chloride. 2-EH can also be used to make a chemical used in the production of coating materials, adhesives, printing inks and impregnation agents. 2-EH occurs naturally in food and is used as a volatile flavoring agent and is indirectly approved as a food additive by the FDA. In addition, 2-EH is also used as an inert pesticide ingredient in pesticide formulations for cultivated crops, raw agricultural products (RAG) or animals.

Chemical Properties

2-Ethylhexanol is a clear, colorless to pale yellow oily liquid. It has a mild, oily, sweet, slightly floral odor reminiscent of rose and sweet, fatty-floral taste with a fruity note. Soluble in 720 times water, miscible in most organic solvents.

Occurrence

Reported found in papaya, peach, pear, blackberry, strawberry, cabbage, Parmesan and mozzarella cheese, butter, roasted chicken, cognac, sherry, grape wines, tea, avocado, kiwifruit, crab and clam.

Uses

2-Ethylhexanol is the most important C8 alcohol and is mainly used as the alcohol component for the manufacture of ester plasticizers for soft poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). Other minor uses include the manufacturing of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, as a dispersing agent and wetting agent, as a solvent for gums and resins, as a cosolvent for nitrocellulose, and in ceramics, paper coatings, rubber latex, textiles, and fragrances.

Uses

2-Ethyl-1-hexanol is used as a flavor, fragrance and plasticizer. It is used to prepare diesters bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. It reacts with nitric acid and used as an octane booster. Its ester, 2-ethylhexyl ester is a component of sunscreen octocrylene. Further, it is used as a low volatility solvent for resins, animal fats, waxes, vegetable oils and petroleum derivatives. In addition to this, it is used in plasticizer, dioctyl phthalate, which is used in the production of polyvinyl chloride products.

Definition

ChEBI: 2-Ethylhexanol is a primary alcohol that is hexan-1-ol substituted by an ethyl group at position 2. It has a role as a volatile oil component and a plant metabolite.

Application

2-Ethyl-1-hexanol is suitable for use in a study to compare its susceptibilities of dynamic heat capacity and dielectric polarization under isothermal conditions. It may be used to study lipase-catalyzed transesterification (alcoholysis) of rapeseed oil and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol in the absence of solvent. 2-Ethyl-1-hexanol may be used in broadband dielectric spectroscopy studies of the polyalcohols-glycerol, xylitol and sorbitol. It may be used in the preparation of porous beads.

Preparation

2-ethylhexanol synthesis: Condensation of acetaldehyde into butanol aldehyde, dehydration to obtain crotonaldehyde, hydrogenation to n-butyraldehyde, condensation dehydration to obtain 2-ethyl-2-hexenal, and then hydrogenation to obtain 2-ethylhexanol.

General Description

2-ethyl hexanol appears as a dark brown liquid with an aromatic odor. Insoluble in water and less dense than water. Flash point between 140 - 175°F. Contact may irritate skin, eyes and mucous membranes. May be toxic by ingestion, inhalation and skin absorption.

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

2-Ethylhexanol is an alcohol. Flammable and/or toxic gases are generated by the combination of alcohols with alkali metals, nitrides, and strong reducing agents. They react with oxoacids and carboxylic acids to form esters plus water. Oxidizing agents convert them to aldehydes or ketones. Alcohols exhibit both weak acid and weak base behavior. They may initiate the polymerization of isocyanates and epoxides. 2-Ethylhexanol is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents and strong acids.

Health Hazard

Anesthesia, nausea, headache, dizziness; mildly irritating to skin and eyes.

Fire Hazard

2-Ethylhexanol is combustible.

Safety Profile

Moderately toxic by ingestion, skin contact, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, and parented routes. An experimental teratogen. Other experimental reproductive effects. A severe eye and moderate skin irritant. Mutation data reported. A dangerous fire hazard when ex posed to heat or flame; can react vigorously with oxidzing materials. To fight fire, use foam, CO2, dry chemical. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and fumes. See also ALCOHOLS.

Synthesis

By hydrogenation of aldehydes obtained by the oxo process; also synthesized from propylene; by catalytic reduction of 2-ethyl-2-hexenal and other similar patented processes.

Carcinogenicity

Male and female F344 rats were dosed by oral gavage with 0, 50, 150, or 500 mg/kg 2-ethylhexanol (0.005% in aqueous Cremophor EL, a polyoxyl 35 castor oil), 5 days/week for 2 years. There were no differences of biological importance between the vehicle control and a water control group that was included in the study. There was no evidence of treatment-related neoplastic lesions in any of the exposed groups.

Toxicity evaluation

2-Ethylhexanol (2-EH) has low oral and dermal acute toxicity, but is moderately irritating to the skin and severely irritating to the eyes. In subchronic repeated-dose studies, liver effects were found, including liver enlargement and peroxisome proliferation in rats and mice. 2-EH is not carcinogenic to mice and rats. No evidence of neurotoxicity was found. Available data indicate that 2-EH is not mutagenic; it is not developmentally toxic. And overall exposure to 2-EH as an inert ingredient in pesticide products is not expected to be harmful to any population.

2-Ethylhexanol(104-76-7)Related Product Information

• Ethylparaben
• 2-Ethoxyethanol
• Trinexapac-ethyl
• ISOXADIFEN-ETHYL
• Ethyl acetate
• Ethylhexyl Palmitate
• 1-Hexanol
• 2-Ethylhexanoic acid
• 2-ETHYLHEXANAL
• Diethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether
• Ethanol
• Hexaconazole
• 2-Ethylhexylamine
• Sodium 2-ethylhexanoate
• 2,2,4-Trimethylpentane
• Isovaleric acid
• Potassium 2-ethylhexanoate
• Cobalt bis(2-ethylhexanoate)