Benzyl Benzoate(CAS: 120-51-4)

Benzyl benzoate is the organic compound with the formula C6H5CH2O2CC6H5. It is the ester of benzyl alcohol and benzoic acid. It forms either a viscous liquid or solid flakes and has a weak, sweet-balsamic odor. It occurs in a number of blossoms (e. g. tuberose, hyacinth) and is a component of Balsam of Peru and Tolu balsam.

It is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines, a list of the most important medication needed in a basic health system.

Uses

Benzyl benzoate is used as an acaricide, scabicide, and pediculicide in veterinary hospitals. It is also a repellent for chiggers, ticks, and mosquitoes.It is an effective and inexpensive topical treatment for human scabies. It hasvasodilating and spasmolytic effects and is present in many asthma and whooping cough medicine.

Other uses of benzyl benzoate are dye carrier, solvent for cellulose derivatives, plasticizer, and fixative in the perfume industry.

Side effects

Benzyl benzoate has low acute toxicity in laboratory animals. It is rapidly hydrolyzed to benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol, which are subsequently metabilized to benzoic acid. The conjugates of benzoic acid are rapidly eliminated in urine. When given in large doses to laboratory animals, benzyl benzoate can cause hyperexcitation, incoordination, ataxia, convulsions, and respiratory paralysis.

Benzyl benzoate is irritant to the skin.

Production

Benzyl benzoate is produced industrially by the reaction of sodium benzoate with benzyl alcohol in the presence of a base. Alternatively, it is produced by transesterification of methylbenzoate and benzyl alcohol.It is also a byproduct of benzoic acid synthesis by toluene oxidation. It can also be generated by the Tishchenko reaction ofbenzaldehyde, using sodium benzylate and aluminium benzylate as catalysts: