2-Ethylhexanoic acid CAS#149-57-5

2-Ethylhexanoic acid, also known as isooctanoic acid, is a carboxylic acid organic compound with the molecular formula C8H16O2 and a molecular weight of approximately 144.22. It is usually a colorless, transparent, oily liquid with a slight odor; melting point -83℃, boiling point 227.6℃, relative density 0.9105 (20℃), refractive index 1.4241 (20℃), flash point 127℃ (open cup), autoignition point 377℃, and viscosity 7.73 mPa·s (20℃); it is soluble in hot water and ether, and slightly soluble in ethanol. 2-Ethylhexanoic acid exhibits significant acidity, reacting with sodium hydroxide to form carboxylate salts; reacting with alcohols under strong oxidizing agents to form esters, such as triethylene glycol di(2-ethylhexanoic acid) ester; and reacting with alkali metals or heavy metals to form metallic soaps, such as zinc soap, lead soap, cadmium soap, and barium soap.

2-Ethylhexanoic acid Chemical Properties

Safety Information

2-Ethylhexanoic acid is an important fine chemical raw material with wide applications in coatings, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides. In the coatings industry, cobalt, manganese, lead, and zinc salts of 2-ethylhexanoic acid are used as drying agents to reduce the viscosity of coatings, resulting in colorless, transparent, and non-yellowing coatings, making them particularly suitable for light-colored paints and varnishes. In the pharmaceutical industry, sodium 2-ethylhexanoate is a major raw material for the synthesis of the antibiotic ampicillin, and its aluminum salt can be used as a refrigerant in surgical procedures and as an adjuvant in the manufacture of antibiotics. In pesticides, 2-ethylhexanoic acid is used to prepare various ester-based fungicides and as a solvent. Furthermore, it can be used as a plasticizer in the plastics and synthetic resin industries, and as a thickener in the ink industry.