7070. Pelargonic Acid

Nomenclature

CAS number: 112-05-0
Nonanoic acid; nonylic acid; nonoic acid; 1-octanecarboxylic acid.
C9H18O2; mol wt 158.24.
C 68.31%, H 11.47%, O 20.22%.

Description and references

Occurs as an ester in oil of pelargonium: Redtenbacher, Ann. 59, 41, 52, 54 (1846). Prepn from unsaturated hydrocarbons by the oxo process: Hill, US 2815355 (1957 to Standard Oil of Indiana); from tall oil unsaturated fatty acids: Maggiolo, US 2865937 (1958 to Welsbach); by oxidation of oleic acid: Mackenzie, Morgan, US 2820046 (1958 to Celanese); from rice bran oil fatty acid: Mihara et al., US 3060211 (1962 to Toya Koatsu Ind.). Purification: Port, Riser, US 2890230 (1959 to U.S.D.A.). Toxicity study: L. Or"o, A. Wretlind, Acta Pharmacol. Toxicol. 18, 141 (1961).

Chemical structure

Properties

Colorless, oily liquid at ordinary temp; crystallizes when cooled; characteristic odor. d420 0.907. mp 12.5°. bp756 252-253°; bp14 143-145°; bp6.3 132-133°. nD20 1.4330; nD40 1.4245. Practically insol in water. Sol in alcohol, chloroform, ether. LD50 i.v. in mice: 224±4.6 mg/kg (Or"o, Wretlind).

Caution

Strong irritant.

Use

In the production of hydrotropic salts (hydrotropic salts form aq solns which dissolve sparingly sol substances to a greater extent than water); in the manuf of lacquers, plastics.