4663. 2-Heptanone

Nomenclature

CAS number: 110-43-0
Methyl amyl ketone.
C7H14O; mol wt 114.19.
C 73.63%, H 12.36%, O 14.01%.

Description and references

Found in oil of cloves and in cinnamon-bark oil. Responsible for the “peppery” odor in cheeses of the Roquefort type: Hammer, Bryant, Iowa State Coll. J. Sci. 11, 281 (1937). Prepd by the ketone decompn of ethyl butylacetoacetate: Drake, Riemenschneider, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 52, 5005 (1930); Dehn, Jackson, ibid. 55, 4285 (1933); Johnson, Hager, Org. Synth. coll. vol. I (2nd ed., 1941) p 351; by hydration of 1-heptyne and 2-heptyne: Thomas et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 60, 719 (1938). Toxicity study: Smyth et al., Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 23, 95 (1962).

Chemical structure

Properties

Liquid. Penetrating fruity odor. d40 0.8324; d415 0.8197; d430 0.8068. bp760 151.5°; bp21 111°. nD15 1.41156; nD25 1.40729. Very slightly sol in water. Sol in alc, ether. LD50 orally in rats: 1.67 g/kg (Smyth).

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure are irritation of eyes, skin and mucous membranes; headache; narcosis, coma; dermatitis. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 200.

Use

In perfumery as constituent of artificial carnation oils; as industrial solvent.