| Chemical Properties | Butyl hexanoate has a characteristic pineapple-like odor. |
| Occurrence | Reported found in fresh apple, apple juice, apricot, banana and orange juice. |
| Uses | Butyl Hexanoate is used in preparation of low viscosity and high flammability ester synthetic oil. |
| Definition | ChEBI: Butyl hexanoate is a hexanoate ester obtained by the formal condensation of the carboxy group of hexanoic acid (caproic acid) with butan-1-ol. It is a volatile compound found in apples and peaches. It has a role as a flavouring agent, a human metabolite, a plant metabolite and an insect attractant. It is a hexanoate ester and a volatile organic compound. It is functionally related to a butan-1-ol. |
| Preparation | By esterification of hexanoic acid with n-butyl alcohol in benzene solution in the presence of p-toluene sulfonic acid; it is also formed in the fermentation of carbohydrates yielding n-butyl alcohol and acetone. |
| Aroma threshold values | Detection: 700 ppb to 10 ppm |
| Taste threshold values | Taste characteristics at 10 ppm: fruity, pineapple, green, waxy, tutti-frutti with a slight fermented fruit note. |
| Synthesis Reference(s) | Journal of the American Chemical Society, 79, p. 4759, 1957 DOI: 10.1021/ja01574a045 |
| General Description | Butyl hexanoate is an aliphatic ester that can be used as a flavoring agent. It is one of the main volatile compounds found in apples. Along with red sticky sphere traps, butyl hexanoate can also act as an odor lure for apple maggot flies. |
| Safety Profile | Low toxicity by ingestion and skin contact. A skin irritant. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes. |
