Pentaerythritol

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Pentaerythritol is a polyol used in the fabrication of PETN, alkyd resins, varnishes, PVC stabilizers, tall oil esters, olefin antioxidants, and pentaerythritol triacrylate.

Contents 1 Properties and description 2 Preparation 3 External links 4 References

[edit] Properties and description

It is a white, crystalline odorless solid, with melting point 260.5 °C and boiling point 276 °C at 30 mm Hg. It is also known under names Hercules P 6, monopentaerythritol, tetramethylolmethane, THME, PETP, pentaerythrite, Pentek, Hercules Aqualon improved technical PE-200.

Its CAS number is [115-77-5] [1] and its SMILES structure is OCC(CO)(CO)CO. Solubility : One gram dissolve in 18 ml water at15^oC. Soluble in ethanol, glycerol, ethylene glycol, formamide. Insoluble in acetone, benzene, paraffin, ether, carbon tetrachloride.

[edit] Preparation

It can be prepared by condensation of acetaldehyde and formaldehyde in a basic environment. The process occurs by successive aldol condensations followed a Cannizzaro reaction. The result contains dipentaerythritol and tripentaerythritol as impurities.^[1]

CH₃CHO + 4 CH₂O + 1/2 Ca(OH)₂ -> C(CH₂OH)₄ + 1/2 (HCOO)₂Ca

[edit] External links

• Links to external chemical sources.

[edit] References

• S. F. Marrian (1948). "The Chemical Reactions of Pentaerythritol and its Derivatives". Chemical Reviews 43 (1): 149-202.