Propionaldehyde

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Propanal
Identifiers
CAS number 123-38-6 YesY
PubChem 527
ChemSpider 512 YesY
UNII AMJ2B4M67V YesY
UN number 1275
ChEBI CHEBI:17153 YesY
ChEMBL CHEMBL275626 YesY
Jmol-3D images Image 1
Properties
Molecular formula C3H6O
Molar mass 58.08 g mol−1
Appearance Colorless liquid
Pungent, malty odor
Density 0.81 g cm−3
Melting point −81 °C; −114 °F; 192 K
Boiling point 46 to 50 °C; 115 to 122 °F; 319 to 323 K
Solubility in water 20 g/100 mL
Viscosity 0.6 cP at 20 °C
Structure
Molecular shape C1, O: sp2

C2, C3: sp3

Dipole moment 2.52 D
Hazards
EU classification Highly flammable (F)
Irritant (Xi)
R-phrases R11, R36/37/38
S-phrases S9, S16, S29
NFPA 704
3
2
2
Flash point −26 °C; −15 °F; 247 K
Autoignition temperature 175 °C; 347 °F; 448 K
Related compounds
Related aldehydes Acetaldehyde
Butyraldehyde
 YesY (verify) (what is: YesY/N?)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Propionaldehyde or propanal is the organic compound with the formula CH3CH2CHO. It is a saturated 3-carbon aldehyde and is a structural isomer of acetone. It is a colourless liquid with a slightly irritating, fruity odour.

Production

Propionaldehyde is mainly produced industrially through hydroformylation, by combining synthesis gas (carbon monoxide and hydrogen) with ethylene using a metal (typically rhodium) catalyst:

CO + H2 + C2H4 → CH3CH2CHO

In this way, several hundred thousand tons are produced annually.[1]

Laboratory preparation

Propionaldehyde may also be prepared by oxidizing propanol with a mixture of sulfuric acid and potassium dichromate. The reflux condenser contains water heated at 60 °C, which condenses unreacted propanol, but allows propionaldehyde to pass. The propionaldehyde vapor is immediately condensed into a suitable receiver. In this arrangement, any propionaldehyde formed is immediately removed from the reactor, thus it does not get over-oxidized to propionic acid.[2]

Uses

It is principally used as a precursor to trimethylolethane (CH3C(CH2OH)3) through a condensation reaction with formaldehyde; this triol is an important intermediate in the production of alkyd resins. Other applications include reduction to propanol and oxidation to propionic acid.[1]

Condensation of propionaldehyde with tert-butylamine gives CH3CH2CH=N-t-Bu, a three-carbon building block used in organic synthesis. Deprotonation of this imine with LDA produces CH3CHLiCH=N-t-Bu, which in turn condenses with aldehydes.[3]

Interstellar occurrence

Astronomers have detected propionaldehyde in the molecular cloud Sagittarius B2 near the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, about 26,000 light years from Earth.[4][5][6] Because molecules emit energy at specific frequencies, researchers were able to identify propionaldehyde and the related compound, propenal, by measuring radio waves emitted by the cloud.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Anthony J. Papa "Propanal" In Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 2011, WIley-VCH, Weinheim. doi:10.1002/14356007.a22_157.pub2
  2. Charles D. Hurd and R. N. Meinert (1943), "Propionaldehyde", Org. Synth. ; Coll. Vol. 2: 541 
  3. Peralta, M. M. "Propionaldehyde t-Butylimine" in Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis (Ed: L. Paquette) 2004, J. Wiley & Sons, New York. doi:10.1002/047084289.
  4. Scientists Discover Two New Interstellar Molecules: Point to Probable Pathways for Chemical Evolution in Space, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, June 21, 2004
  5. Two newly found space molecules. By: Goho, Alexandra, Science News, 00368423, 7/24/2004, Vol. 166, Issue 4
  6. Chemical Precursors to Life Found in Space Scientists say that a universal prebiotic chemistry may be at work
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