Nomenclature
CAS number: 123-51-3
3-Methyl-1-butanol; isoamyl alcohol; isobutyl carbinol; primary isoamyl alcohol; fermentation amyl alcohol.
C
5H
12O; mol wt 88.15.
C 68.13%, H 13.72%, O 18.15%.
Description and references
A major component of commercial amyl alcohol, fusel oil, q.v., and potato-spirit oil. Prepn from butadiene, CO, H2O, plus catalyst:
Alderson, US 3020314 (1962 to du Pont); from methylbutenes: Brown,
Zweifel, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 82, 1504 (1960). Early review of metabolism and toxicity:
H. W. Haggard et al., J. Ind.
Hyg. Toxicol. 27, 1 (1945). Review of manuf
by fractionation of fusel oil and via chlorination of pentanes, and
properties: W. L. Faith et al., Eds., Industrial Chemicals (John Wiley, New York, 2nd ed.,
1957) pp 107-114. Acute toxicity data: Smyth et al., Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 30, 470
(1969).
Properties
Liquid; characteristic, disagreeable odor; pungent,
repulsive taste. bp760 130.5°. mp 117.2°. d415 0.813. d25 0.80631. nD20 1.4075. nD25 1.40519. Flash pt, closed
cup: 114°F (45°C); open cup: 132°F (55°C). Slightly sol in water (2 g/100
ml at 14°); misc with alcohol, ether, benzene, chloroform, petr ether,
glacial acetic acid, oils. LD50 orally in rats: 7.07 ml/kg (Smyth).Caution
Potential symptoms of overexposure
are irritation of eyes, skin, nose and throat; headache, dizziness;
coughing, dyspnea, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea; skin cracking. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical
Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 174. See also Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology vol. 2C, G. D. Clayton, F. E. Clayton, Eds. (Wiley-Interscience,
New York, 3rd ed., 1982) pp 4588-4599.Use
Organic solvent for fats, resins, alkaloids, etc.;
manuf isoamyl (amyl) compds, isovaleric acid, mercury fulminate, pyroxylin,
artificial silk, lacquers, smokeless powders; in microscopy; for dehydrating
celloidin solns; for determining fat in milk.