CLEAR COLORLESS TO YELLOWISH LIQUID
Butyl formate has a fruity, plum-like odor and corresponding taste.
Reported found in fresh apple, strawberry fruit, cloudberry, sherry and Parmesan cheese.
Solvent for nitrocellulose, some types of cel-
lulose acetate, many cellulose ethers, many natural
and synthetic resins, lacquers, perfumes, organic
synthesis (intermediate), flavoring.
ChEBI: Butyl formate is a formate ester resulting from the formal condensation of formic acid with the hydroxy group of butan-1-ol. Found in apples, strawberries, sherry and Pamesan cheese, it has a fruity, plum-like odour and taste. It has a role as a polar aprotic solvent, a flavouring agent and a fragrance. It is functionally related to a butan-1-ol.
By azeotropic distillation of formic acid and n-butyl alcohol with isopropyl formate; by boiling n-butyl alcohol and formamide
in the presence on ZnCl, ZnSo4 or HgCl2.
Detection: 800 ppb to 6 ppm
A clear colorless liquid. Flash point 64°F. Less dense than water. Vapors heavier than air.
Highly flammable. Slightly soluble in water.
Butyl formate is an ester. Esters react with acids to liberate heat along with alcohols and acids. Strong oxidizing acids may cause a vigorous reaction that is sufficiently exothermic to ignite the reaction products. Heat is also generated by the interaction of esters with caustic solutions. Flammable hydrogen is generated by mixing esters with alkali metals and hydrides. Can generate electrostatic charges [Handling Chemicals Safely 1980. p. 247].
Narcotic and irritating in high concentra-
tion. Flammable, dangerous fire risk.
Exposure can cause irritation of eyes, nose and throat. High concentrations have a narcotic effect.
Moderately toxic by
ingestion. Mildly toxic by inhalation. Human
systemic effects by inhalation: muscle
contractions and spasticity, conjunctiva
irritation, and unspecified respiratory
changes. An irritant and narcotic in high
concentrations. See also ESTERS, nBUTYL ALCOHOL, and FORMIC ACID.
Dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat
or flame. To fight fire, use alcohol foam,
foam, CO2, dry chemical. Incompatible with
oxidizing materials. When heated to
decomposition it emits acrid and irritating
fumes.
Wash the formate with saturated NaHCO3 solution in the presence of saturated NaCl, until no further reaction occurs, then with saturated NaCl solution, dry (MgSO4), filter and fractionally distil the filtrate. [Beilstein 2 IV 28.]
