1765. Caprylic Acid

Nomenclature

CAS number: 124-07-2
Octanoic acid.
C8H16O2; mol wt 144.21.
C 66.63%, H 11.18%, O 22.19%.

Description and references

Prepn from 1-heptene: Dupont et al., Compt. Rend. 240, 628 (1955); by oxidation of octanol: Langenbeck, Richter, Ber. 89, 202 (1956). Manuf: Alexander, US 2821534 (1958 to GAF); McAlister et al., US 3053869 (1962 to Standard Oil Co., Indiana). Antifungal properties: O. Wyss et al., Arch. Biochem. 7, 418 (1945). Toxicity: P. M. Jenner et al., Food Cosmet. Toxicol. 2, 327 (1964). Review: Fatty Acids Part 1, K. S. Markley, Ed. (Interscience, New York, 2nd ed., 1960) pp 34, 38.

Chemical structure

Properties

Oily liquid, bp 239.7°. Slightly unpleasant rancid taste. mp 16.7°. d420 0.910. nD20 1.4280. Very slightly sol in water (0.068 g/100 g at 20°); freely sol in alcohol, chloroform, ether, carbon disulfide, petr ether, glacial acetic acid. LD50 orally in rats: 10,080 mg/kg (Jenner).

Use

An intermediate in manuf of esters used in perfumery; in manuf of dyes, etc.