1758. n-Capric Acid

Nomenclature

CAS number: 334-48-5
Decanoic acid.
C10H20O2; mol wt 172.26.
C 69.72%, H 11.70%, O 18.58%.

Description and references

Prepn from octyl bromide: Shishido et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 81, 5817 (1959); Closson, De Pree, US 2918494 (1959 to Ethyl Corp.). Recovery from Cuphea llavea Llave et Lex, Lythaceae seed oil: Miwa et al., US 2964546 (1960 to U.S.D.A.). Toxicity study: L. Or"o, A. Wretlind, Acta Pharmacol. Toxicol. 18, 141 (1961). Review: Fatty Acids Part I, K. S. Markley, Ed. (Interscience, New York, 2nd ed., 1960) pp 34, 39.

Chemical structure

Properties

Crystalline solid, mp 31.4°. Rancid odor. bp 270°. d450 0.8782. nD40 1.4288. Practically insol in water (0.015 g/100 g at 20°). Sol in ethanol, ether, chloroform, benzene, carbon disulfide. Also sol in dil HNO3 from which it precipitates unchanged by addition of water. LD50 i.v. in mice: 129 ±5.4 mg/kg (Or"o, Wretlind).

Use

Manuf of esters for artificial fruit flavors and perfumes; as an intermediate in other chemical syntheses.