1-Pentanol, (or n-pentanol, pentan-1-ol), is an organic compound with the formula CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2OH and is classified as a primary alcohol.[2] It is a colourless liquid with a distinctive aroma. It is one of 8 isomeric alcohols with the formula C5H11OH. It is used as a solvent, a biological drying agent and in the synthesis of some fragrance compounds. It is also a common component of fusel alcohols (fusel oils), the undesirable byproducts of alcoholic fermentation.

Preparation

1-Pentanol is prepared from 1-butene by hydroformylation followed by hydrogenation of the resulting pentanal.[3]

CH3CH2CH=CH2 + CO + H2 → CH3CH2CH2CH2CHO
CH3CH2CH2CH2CHO + H2 → CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2OH

Pentanol can be prepared by fractional distillation of fusel oil. To reduce the use of fossil fuels, research is underway to develop cost-effective methods of producing (chemically identical) bio-pentanol with fermentation.[4][5]

Uses and occurrence

The hydroxyl group (OH) is the active site of many reactions. The ester formed from 1-pentanol and butyric acid is pentyl butyrate, which has an apricot-like odor. The ester formed from 1-pentanol and acetic acid is amyl acetate (also called pentyl acetate), which has a banana-like odor.

It is a precursor to dipentyl zinc dithiophosphates, which are used in froth flotation.[3]

In 2014, a study was conducted comparing the performance of diesel fuel blends with various proportions of pentanol as an additive. While gaseous emissions increased with higher concentrations of pentanol, particulate emissions decreased.[6]

Pentanol is often used as a solvent.

References

  1. ^ "n-pentanol - Compound Summary". PubChem Compound. USA: National Center for Biotechnology Information. 26 March 2005. Identification and Related Records. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  2. ^ CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics 65th ed.
  3. ^ a b Lappe, Peter; Hofmann, Thomas (2011). "Pentanols". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a19_049.pub2. ISBN 9783527303854.
  4. ^ Cann, Anthony F.; Liao, James C. (2010-01-01). "Pentanol isomer synthesis in engineered microorganisms". Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 85 (4): 893–899. doi:10.1007/s00253-009-2262-7. ISSN 1432-0614. PMC 2804790. PMID 19859707.
  5. ^ Tseng, Hsien-Chung (2011). Production of pentanol in metabolically engineered Escherichia coli (Thesis thesis). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. hdl:1721.1/65767.
  6. ^ Wei, Liangjie & Cheung, C.s & Huang, Zuohua. (2014). Effect of n-pentanol addition on the combustion, performance and emission characteristics of a direct-injection diesel engine. Energy. 70. 10.1016/j.energy.2014.03.106.