Phenylacetaldehyde

Phenylacetaldehyde

Names
IUPAC name 2-Phenylacetaldehyde
Other names Hyacinthin Phenylethanal
Identifiers
CAS Number	122-78-1 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
Beilstein Reference	385791
ChemSpider	13876539 N
ECHA InfoCard	100.004.159
PubChem CID	998
UNII	U8J5PLW9MR Y
InChI InChI=1S/C8H8O/c9-7-6-8-4-2-1-3-5-8/h1-5,7H,6H2 N Key: DTUQWGWMVIHBKE-UHFFFAOYSA-N N InChI=1/C8H8O/c9-7-6-8-4-2-1-3-5-8/h1-5,7H,6H2 Key: DTUQWGWMVIHBKE-UHFFFAOYAO
SMILES O=CCc1ccccc1
Properties
Chemical formula	C8H8O
Molar mass	120.15 g/mol
Appearance	Colorless liquid
Density	1.079 g/mL
Melting point	−10 °C (14 °F; 263 K)
Boiling point	195 °C (383 °F; 468 K)
Solubility in water	2.210 g/L
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	-72.01·10−6 cm3/mol
Refractive index (nD)	1.526
Hazards
Main hazards	Harmful, Flammable
R-phrases (outdated)	R22 R36 R37 R38
S-phrases (outdated)	S26 S36
Flash point	87 °C (189 °F; 360 K)
Related compounds
Related 2-phenyl aldehydes	3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde Phenylglyoxal
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N  (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Phenylglyoxal

Phenylacetaldehyde is an organic compound used in the synthesis of fragrances and polymers.

Phenylacetaldehyde occurs extensively in nature because it can be biosynthetically derived from the amino acid phenylalanine. Natural sources of the compound include chocolate,buckwheat,flowers, and communication pheromones from various insect orders. It is notable for being a floral attractant for numerous species of Lepidoptera; for example, it is the strongest floral attractor for the cabbage looper moth.

The aroma of pure substance can be described as honey-like, sweet, rose, green, grassy and is added to fragrances to impart hyacinth, narcissi, or rose nuances. For similar reasons the compound can sometimes be found in flavored cigarettes and beverages.

Historically, before biotechnology approaches were developed, phenylacetaldehyde was also used to produce phenylalanine via the Strecker reaction as a step in the production of aspartame sweetener.

Phenylacetaldehyde is used in the synthesis of polyesters where it serves as a rate-controlling additive during polymerization.