1130. Benzyl Cinnamate

Nomenclature

CAS number: 103-41-3
3-Phenyl-2-propenoic acid phenylmethyl ester; trans-cinnamic acid benzyl ester; cinnamein.
C16H14O2; mol wt 238.28.
C 80.65%, H 5.92%, O 13.43%.
C6H5CH=CHCOOCH2C6H5.

Description and references

Constituent of storax, Peru and Tolu balsams: Tschirch, Trog, Arch. Pharm. 232, 70 (1894); Tschirch, Oberl"ander, ibid. 559. Prepn: Volwiler, Vliet, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 43, 1672 (1921); Eliel, Anderson, ibid. 74, 547 (1952); Bender, Zerner, ibid. 84, 2550 (1962). Toxicity study: P. M. Jenner et al., Food Cosmet. Toxicol. 2, 327 (1964).

Properties

Crystals from 95% ethanol; sweet odor of balsam. mp 39°; also reported as mp 33-34° (Volwiler, Vliet). Dec on distillation at ordinary pressure; bp0.5 154-157°, bp5 195-200°, bp22 228-230°. Practically insol in water, propylene glycol and glycerin. Sol in alc, ether, oils. LD50 orally in rats: 5530 mg/kg (Jenner).

Use

In artificial flavors, in perfumes, mainly as a fixative.