Hexyl benzoate is a synthetically made and naturally occurring organic compound belonging to the aromatic esters. It occurs naturally in several plants and fruits such as apricot, peach, guava, lingonberry, tea, and cashew. The compound is used as an ingredient in perfumes and flavorings.Johannes Panten & Horst Surburg: "Flavors and Fragrances, 3. Aromatic and Heterocyclic Compounds", teoksessa Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2016.
Properties At room temperature, hexyl benzoate is a colorless liquid with an odor that has been described as fruity and melon-like or fresh and coniferous. The compound is practically insoluble in water, but is soluble in solvents such as ethanol, acetone, and dimethyl sulfoxide.Kyriakoula Ziegler-Skylakakis: "Selected Aliphatic and Aromatic Nitrogen Compounds", teoksessa Patty's Toxicology, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2023.
Synthesis Hexyl benzoate is prepared by the esterification reaction between hexanol and benzoic acid.
Usage Hexyl benzoate is used as a fixative in fragrances, such as perfumes and soaps. The compound can also be used as a food flavoring.Jarl L. Opgrande, Edward E. Brown, Martha Hesser & Jerry Andrews: "Benzoic acid", teoksessa Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2003.
References