Currently, the perfume industry is very often uses benzyl alcohol. The compound formula represented by the radical residue of an alcohol and benzene (phenyl). aromatic alcohols characterized by radical isomerism lateral chain and OH-group positioning in the hydrocarbon chain. Alcohol in most cases, given the name trivial.
Aromatic alcohols in the free state is widely distributed in nature. As a rule, they are detected in essential oils. Benzyl was synthesized from homologous halogenated benzene, in which the halogen is localized in a side chain.
These alcohols differ from the phenols mainly because they are not pronounced acidic properties. Benzyl alcohol is also obtained from natural raw materials, which contains esters. Subsequently, so obtained was extracted with aromatic alcohols. aromatic alcohols are very close to aliphatic alcohols: from the action of alkali metal alkoxides to form; by oxidation, depending on the structure, it is converted into the corresponding aldehydes or ketones; Form ethers and esters are easy.
The physical properties of alcohols
The first representatives of the homologous series of acyclic alcohols – liquid, and higher alcohols – solids. Early homologues (methanol, ethanol, propanol) have a smell of alcohol, medium (isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, pentanol, hexanol) – phlegm oils, higher – no odor. Alcohols have a high boiling point, which is associated with the association of the molecules by means of hydrogen bonds. Most of these and other physico-chemical properties of alcohols vary with increasing molecular weight.
It must be taken into account that the alcohol passing from the liquid state to the gaseous state (to the boiling) breaks the hydrogen bond. The ultraviolet absorption spectrum is a band in the region of 150-200 nm. X-ray and electronic diffraction can determine the angle of the C-C-N linear joint of 110 ° 25 ‘. As for aromatic alcohols, they are characterized by the same properties as acyclic alcohols.
These compounds are poorly or not soluble in water, good – in organic solvents. The boiling point significantly higher than the corresponding arenas. The absorption band in the ultraviolet and infrared spectrum similar to aliphatic alcohols.
These compounds have the same chemical properties as aliphatic alcohols. They form alkoxides, ethers and esters, halogenated on the side chain, and when oxidation – ketones, aldehydes and aromatic acids. Furthermore, such alcohols may exhibit arenes properties. For example, may react due to halogenation, nitration, sulfonation and hydrogenation.
Benzyl alcohol – solid, very soluble in ethanol, slightly – in water, melts at 15.3 ° C, boils at 205.8 ° C Prepared for its alkaline hydrochloride of benzyl chloride by reacting benzaldehyde with formaldehyde in the presence of sodium hydroxide, of some essential oils and natural balsams. Used as a fragrance, odor block, the solvent in the perfume industry.
