Propionaldehyde

Not to be confused with propanol.
Propanal
Names
IUPAC name
Propanal
Systematic IUPAC name
Propionaldehyde
Other names
Methylacetaldehyde; propionic aldehyde; propaldehyde
Identifiers
123-38-6 Yes
ChEBI CHEBI:17153 Yes
ChEMBL ChEMBL275626 Yes
ChemSpider 512 Yes
Jmol-3D images Image
PubChem 527
UNII AMJ2B4M67V Yes
UN number 1275
Properties
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 °C (115 °F; 319 K)
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 F+ Xi
R-phrases R11, R36/37/38
S-phrases S9, S16, S29
NFPA 704
Flammability code 3: Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions. Flash point between 23 and 38 °C (73 and 100 °F). E.g., gasoline) Health code 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g., chloroform Reactivity code 2: Undergoes violent chemical change at elevated temperatures and pressures, reacts violently with water, or may form explosive mixtures with water. E.g., phosphorus Special hazards (white): no codeNFPA 704 four-colored diamond
3
2
2
Flash point −26 °C (−15 °F; 247 K)
175 °C (347 °F; 448 K)
Related compounds
Related aldehydes
Acetaldehyde
Butyraldehyde
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
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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 1-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, acrolein, 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, p. 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