2028. Cetyl Alcohol

Nomenclature

CAS number: 36653-82-4
1-Hexadecanol; ethal; ethol; palmityl alcohol.
C16H34O; mol wt 242.44.
C 79.27%, H 14.14%, O 6.60%.

Description and references

Discovered by Chevreul in 1813. Obtained from spermaceti by saponification: Spada, Gavioli, Farm. Sci. Tec. (Pavia) 7, 435 (1952), C.A. 47, 891c (1953). Prepn from palmitoyl chloride + NaBH4: Caikin, Brown, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 71, 122 (1949); from methylthiopalmitate + Raney Ni: Ruzicka, Prelog, US 2509171 (1950 to Ciba); from hexadecyl bromide: Levine, Clippinger, US 3018308 (1962 to California Res. Corp.).

Chemical structure

Properties

White crystals. d 0.811. mp 49°. bp 344°; bp15 190°. nD79 1.4283. Practically insol in water. Sol in alcohol, chloroform, ether.

Derivative

Hexadecyl alcohol.

Description and references

Primary, branched chain, C16 alcohol, made up of an array of isomeric compds maintained in constant proportion by a complex manufacturing process (not from spermaceti): Edman, Lowden, Drug Cosmet. Ind. 93, 631 (Nov. 1963).

Properties

Liquid, d2020 0.842. bp50 195-205°. Freezes at <-60°. Miscible with most alcohols, glycols, esters, ketones, cosmetic oils and aromatics. Immiscible with water.

Use

In cosmetics as emollient, emulsion modifier, coupling agent. Pharmaceutic aid (emulsifying and stiffening agent).