Isoamyl acetate 4164654 216110850 2008-05-31T03:13:16Z Cacycle 83784 + [[Category:Esters]] {{Chembox new | Name = Isoamyl acetate | ImageFile = Isoamyl_acetate.png <!-- | ImageSize = 200px --> | ImageName = Isoamyl acetate | ImageFile2 = Isoamyl-acetate-3D-balls.png | IUPACName = 3-methyl-1-butyl acetate | OtherNames = isopentyl acetate<br />banana oil<br />isopentyl ethanoate<br />pear essence<br />3-methylbutyl acetate | Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers | CASNo = 123-92-2 | SMILES = CC(C)CCOC(C)=O }} | Section2 = {{Chembox Properties | Formula = C<sub>7</sub>H<sub>14</sub>O<sub>2</sub> | MolarMass = 130.19 g/mol | Density = 0.876 g/cm<sup>3</sup> | MeltingPt = -78 °C | BoilingPt = 142 °C }} | Section7 = {{Chembox Hazards | NFPA-H = 1 | NFPA-F = 3 | NFPA-R = 0 | FlashPt = 25&nbsp;°C }} }}<!-- | [[Refractive index]] | {{{refractive_index_(nD20)|1.4020}}}--> '''Isoamyl acetate''', also known as '''isopentyl acetate''', is an [[organic compound]] that is the [[ester]] formed from [[isoamyl alcohol]] and [[acetic acid]]. It is a clear colorless liquid that is only slightly soluble in water, but very soluble in most organic solvents. Isoamyl acetate has a strong odor (similar to juicy fruit) which is also described as similar to both [[banana]] and [[pear]]. '''Banana oil''' is a term that is applied either to pure isoamyl acetate or to flavorings that are mixtures of isoamyl acetate, [[amyl acetate]], [[nitrocellulose]] and other flavors. ''Pear oil'' commonly refers to a solution of isoamyl acetate in [[ethanol]] that is used as an artificial flavor. Isoamyl acetate is also used to test the effectiveness of [[respirator]]s or [[gas mask]]s because it has a strong smell which is generally not experienced as unpleasant that can be detected at low concentrations, and has low toxicity. It is also used as a solvent for some varnishes and nitrocellulose lacquers, as well as being a honey bee [[pheromone]] and can be used to attract large groups of honeybees to a small area. Isoamyl acetate is released by a [[honey bee]]'s [[Stinger|sting]] apparatus where it serves as a [[Honey_bee_pheromones#Alarm_ pheromone |pheromone]] beacon to attract other bees and provoke them to sting. <ref>{{cite journal | author = Boch R | coauthors = Shearer DA, Stone BC | date = [[September 8]], [[1962]] | title = Identification of isoamyl acetate as an active component in the sting pheromone of the honey bee. | journal = Nature | volume = 195 | pages = 1018-20 | publisher = Nature Publishing Group | location = England | issn = 0028-0836 | pmid = 13870346 }}</ref> ==Laboratory Synthesis== Isoamyl acetate can be prepared in the laboratory by the acid catalyzed [[Fischer esterification]] reaction between [[isoamyl alcohol]] and glacial [[acetic acid]] as shown in the reaction equation below. Typically, concentrated [[sulfuric acid]] is used as the [[catalyst]]. The reactants are [[refluxed]] in order to promote the reaction, the acid is neutralized and extracted, and the product is dried, then distilled. [[Image:Isoamyl_acetate_synthesis.png|450px]] ==References== <references/> [[Category:Esters]] [[Category:Carboxylate esters]] [[Category:Acetates]] [[Category:Flavors]] [[Category:Ester solvents]] [[Category:Pheromones]] [[fr:Acétate d'isoamyle]] [[it:Acetato di isoamile]] [[nl:Isoamylacetaat]] [[ja:酢酸イソアミル]] [[fi:Isoamyyliasetaatti]]