2-Methylbutanoic acid

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  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    116-53-0

    Molecular formula
    C5H10O2

    SMILES
    CCC(C)C(=O)O

    Safety labels

    Corrosive
    Corrosive

    Irritant
    Irritant

    Retention indicies (RI)

    • DB5: 867.5
    • Carbowax: 1654.71

  • Odor profile

    Fruity 95.13%
    Cheesy 83.84%
    Sour 59.48%
    Dairy 51.81%
    Pungent 48.35%
    Sweet 47.18%
    Sweaty 46.05%
    Buttery 44.48%
    Tropical 43.98%
    Fatty 42.13%

    Scent© AI

  • Properties

    XLogP3-AA
    1.2

    pKa est.
    7.5 (neutral)

    Molecular weight
    102.13 g/mol

    Vapor pressure est.

    • hPa @ 20°C
    • hPa @ 25°C

    Evaporation rate
    Moderately fast

    Boiling point

    • 176.00 to 177.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg

    Flash point est.
    73.72 ˚C

    Solubility expt.

    • 45 mg/mL at 20 °C
    • 1 ml in 1 ml 95% alcohol (in ethanol)

  • Synonyms

    • 2-Methylbutanoic acid
    • 2-METHYLBUTYRIC ACID
    • 116-53-0
    • DL-2-Methylbutyric acid
    • Butanoic acid, 2-methyl-
    • Ethylmethylacetic acid
    • 2-Methyl butyric acid
    • 600-07-7
    • Carbomer 934
    • Methylethylacetic acid
    • 2-Methybutyric acid
    • Active valeric acid
    • Butyric acid, 2-methyl-
    • alpha-Methylbutyric acid
    • 9007-16-3
    • Methylbutyric acid
    • (+/-)-2-Methylbutyric acid
    • 2-methyl-butanoic acid
    • FEMA No. 2695
    • alpha-methyl butyric Acid
    • NSC 7304
    • 2-methyl-butyric acid
    • PX7ZNN5GXK
    • MFCD00002669
    • .alpha.-Methylbutyric acid
    • DL-2-Methyl-d3-butyricAcid
    • DTXSID5021621
    • CHEBI:37070
    • NSC-7304
    • Synthalen M; Acrypol 934
    • Carbopol 934
    • DTXCID301621
    • Valeric acid, active
    • Carbomer 934 (Technical Grade)
    • Butanoic acid, methyl-
    • Methylbutyricacid
    • 2-Methylbutyric acid (VAN)
    • CAS-116-53-0
    • Carbopol 974P
    • 2-Methylbutyric acid (natrual)
    • (+)-2-methylbutanoic acid
    • UNII-PX7ZNN5GXK
    • EINECS 204-145-2
    • EINECS 209-982-7
    • (R)-2-Methylbutyric Acid-d3
    • (1)-2-Methylbutyric acid
    • BRN 1098537
    • AI3-24202
    • MFCD09029093
    • Ethylmethylacetate
    • 2-Ethylpropionate
    • 2-Methyl Butyrate
    • 2-METHYLBUTANOIC ACID (DL)
    • 2-Methylbutanoicacid
    • Pokty(acrylic acid)
    • DL-2-Methylbutyrate
    • 2-Ethylpropionic acid
    • D-2-Methyl Butyrate
    • DL-2-Methy Butyrate
    • butane-2-carboxylic acid
    • rac-2-methylbutanoic acid
    • D-2-Methyl Butyric acid
    • DL-2-Methy Butyric acid
    • (+/-)-2-Methylbutyrate
    • EC 204-145-2
    • SCHEMBL49960
    • 2-Methyl-Butyric Acid Anion
    • 2-Methylbutyric acid, 98%
    • (RS)-2-methyl-butyric acid
    • 4-02-00-00889 (Beilstein Handbook Reference)
    • MLS001055480
    • Carbomer 934 [USAN:NF]
    • CHEMBL1160012
    • NSC7304
    • (.+/-.)-2-Methylbutanoic acid
    • HMS2270O06
    • 2-METHYLBUTYRIC ACID, DL-
    • 1346617-08-0
    • 2-METHYLBUTYRIC ACID [FCC]
    • 2-METHYLBUTYRIC ACID [FHFI]
    • Tox21_201807
    • Tox21_303584
    • LMFA01020072
    • 2-Methylbutyric acid, >=98%, FG
    • Butanoic acid, 2-methyl-, (+ -)
    • DL-.ALPHA.-METHYLBUTYRIC ACID
    • AKOS000121120
    • AKOS016843247
    • CS-W001942
    • FC44408
    • SB47880
    • NCGC00090971-01
    • NCGC00090971-02
    • NCGC00257513-01
    • NCGC00259356-01
    • 2-Methylbutyric acid, analytical standard
    • FM159331
    • PD041098
    • SMR000112113
    • SY115833
    • Methyl-2 Butyric Acid (Optically Active)
    • DB-003300
    • M0181
    • NS00007338
    • EN300-27063
    • C18319
    • Q209433
    • (+/-)-2-Methylbutyric acid, natural, >=98%, FG
    • F0001-0289
    • Z237374874
    • (2R)-(-)-2-methylbutyric acid;R)-(-)-2-methylbutanoic acid

  • Applications

    2-Methylbutyric acid (2-methylbutanoic acid, CAS 116-53-0) is a short-chain carboxylic acid with a strong cheesy, sweaty odour that is widely employed in the flavour and fragrance industry to impart or fine-tune buttery, cheesy, caramel and fruity notes such as apple, grape and pineapple in beverages, confectionery, baked goods and animal feed; its esters (notably isoamyl and ethyl 2-methylbutyrate) are synthesised as powerful fruit accords for fine fragrances, cosmetics and personal-care products, while the presence of a chiral centre makes the acid a valuable starting material or stereochemical auxiliary in the preparation of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, optically active materials and photonic intermediates; it also serves as a resin modifier, paint additive and analytical reference standard in odour evaluation laboratories, and owing to its mild antimicrobial activity it is being explored as an ingredient in biodegradable food coatings and low-intensity sanitising formulations to prolong the shelf life of fresh produce.

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 152.07
    methanol 275.15
    isopropanol 90.86
    water 28.46
    ethyl acetate 41.49
    n-propanol 89.42
    acetone 41.09
    n-butanol 80.52
    acetonitrile 41.09
    DMF 68.61
    toluene 5.97
    isobutanol 82.81
    1,4-dioxane 150.08
    methyl acetate 43.11
    THF 184.23
    2-butanone 41.96
    n-pentanol 85.55
    sec-butanol 82.24
    n-hexane 9.23
    ethylene glycol 86.69
    NMP 230.49
    cyclohexane 4.37
    DMSO 175.3
    n-butyl acetate 65.88
    n-octanol 61.51
    chloroform 56.22
    n-propyl acetate 38.92
    acetic acid 285.38
    dichloromethane 51.2
    cyclohexanone 103.7
    propylene glycol 83.44
    isopropyl acetate 37.38
    DMAc 86.57
    2-ethoxyethanol 131.88
    isopentanol 99.82
    n-heptane 5.31
    ethyl formate 44.01
    1,2-dichloroethane 37.22
    n-hexanol 115.46
    2-methoxyethanol 171.03
    isobutyl acetate 31.02
    tetrachloromethane 19.41
    n-pentyl acetate 60.64
    transcutol 416.58
    n-heptanol 76.55
    ethylbenzene 10.12
    MIBK 50.2
    2-propoxyethanol 160.79
    tert-butanol 166.93
    MTBE 64.33
    2-butoxyethanol 126.85
    propionic acid 138.4
    o-xylene 13.17
    formic acid 214.92
    diethyl ether 29.82
    m-xylene 11.94
    p-xylene 16.67
    chlorobenzene 20.79
    dimethyl carbonate 12.45
    n-octane 3.56
    formamide 179.92
    cyclopentanone 136.92
    2-pentanone 40.82
    anisole 32.08
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 67.37
    gamma-butyrolactone 200.05
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 120.48
    pyridine 40.76
    3-pentanone 24.89
    furfural 161.62
    n-dodecane 3.26
    diethylene glycol 155.18
    diisopropyl ether 19.94
    tert-amyl alcohol 148.62
    acetylacetone 59.97
    n-hexadecane 3.5
    acetophenone 43.64
    methyl propionate 29.95
    isopentyl acetate 76.64
    trichloroethylene 75.25
    n-nonanol 53.88
    cyclohexanol 75.95
    benzyl alcohol 45.29
    2-ethylhexanol 69.75
    isooctanol 69.24
    dipropyl ether 25.22
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 31.02
    ethyl lactate 32.0
    propylene carbonate 103.07
    n-methylformamide 78.47
    2-pentanol 59.53
    n-pentane 4.74
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 107.84
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 72.06
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 116.45
    mesitylene 12.75
    ε-caprolactone 126.85
    p-cymene 16.4
    epichlorohydrin 124.8
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 34.12
    2-aminoethanol 133.86
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 194.98
    sulfolane 287.46
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 8.01
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 142.57
    n-hexyl acetate 86.91
    isooctane 6.42
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 172.77
    sec-butyl acetate 30.92
    tert-butyl acetate 63.17
    decalin 6.87
    glycerin 138.69
    diglyme 213.08
    acrylic acid 122.67
    isopropyl myristate 34.56
    n-butyric acid 130.06
    acetyl acetate 35.44
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 47.42
    ethyl propionate 28.85
    nitromethane 182.95
    1,2-diethoxyethane 74.21
    benzonitrile 42.3
    trioctyl phosphate 37.89
    1-bromopropane 16.22
    gamma-valerolactone 205.78
    n-decanol 40.3
    triethyl phosphate 27.01
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 61.81
    propionitrile 29.03
    vinylene carbonate 80.17
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 130.26
    DMS 48.06
    cumene 15.33
    2-octanol 50.63
    2-hexanone 52.53
    octyl acetate 46.34
    limonene 24.71
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 117.74
    ethyl orthosilicate 27.84
    tributyl phosphate 42.81
    diacetone alcohol 121.6
    N,N-dimethylaniline 33.2
    acrylonitrile 40.08
    aniline 28.05
    1,3-propanediol 151.71
    bromobenzene 14.89
    dibromomethane 31.66
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 75.02
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 56.12
    tetrabutyl urea 49.38
    diisobutyl methanol 40.2
    2-phenylethanol 65.4
    styrene 9.75
    dioctyl adipate 51.44
    dimethyl sulfate 38.52
    ethyl butyrate 39.23
    methyl lactate 39.91
    butyl lactate 69.44
    diethyl carbonate 24.58
    propanediol butyl ether 131.55
    triethyl orthoformate 33.45
    p-tert-butyltoluene 16.15
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 77.94
    morpholine 153.57
    tert-butylamine 90.04
    n-dodecanol 29.72
    dimethoxymethane 41.63
    ethylene carbonate 61.79
    cyrene 101.21
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 77.76
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 55.02
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 40.54
    4-methylpyridine 40.07
    dibutyl ether 35.09
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 40.2
    DEF 56.16
    dimethyl isosorbide 172.86
    tetrachloroethylene 66.84
    eugenol 84.19
    triacetin 74.81
    span 80 123.64
    1,4-butanediol 87.75
    1,1-dichloroethane 27.82
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 109.78
    methyl formate 56.1
    2-methyl-1-butanol 87.8
    n-decane 4.99
    butyronitrile 38.79
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 63.5
    1-chlorooctane 22.47
    1-chlorotetradecane 9.66
    n-nonane 4.61
    undecane 3.92
    tert-butylcyclohexane 9.37
    cyclooctane 2.61
    cyclopentanol 120.72
    tetrahydropyran 72.35
    tert-amyl methyl ether 56.25
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 169.44
    1-hexene 21.71
    2-isopropoxyethanol 100.28
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 105.31
    methyl butyrate 46.55

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
No restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 No restriction Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 No restriction Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 No restriction Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 No restriction
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 No restriction Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 No restriction
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 No restriction
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 No restriction
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 No restriction Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 No restriction Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction

Botanical

Name CAS Botanical Proportion
Linden blossom flower Tilia cordata Mill. (Tilia glabra Vent.), fam. Tiliaceae 0.8%
Hedychium coronarium flower (Japan) Hedychium coronarium Koenig, fam. Zingiberaceae 0.29%
Fagraea berteriana flower Fagraea berteriana A. Gray ex Benth., fam. Potaliaceae 0.08%
Ambarella fruit Spondias cytherea Sonnerat (Ambarella), fam. Anacardiaceae 0.18%
Jasmine rose absolute (India) Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, fam. Rubiaceae 1.14%
Tamarind 3 fruit Tamarindus indica L., fam. Leguminosae 0.1%
Spearmint, scotch (Japan) Mentha gracilis Sole, fam. Lamiaceae (Labiatae) 4.5%
Genipap fruit (Brazil) Genipa americana L., fam. Rubiaceae 9.1%
Carob bean powder 2a raw 9000-40-2 Ceratonia siliqua L., fam. Leguminoseae 14.1%
Carob bean powder 2b roasted 9000-40-2 Ceratonia siliqua L., fam. Leguminoseae 6.4%
Michelia alba leaf (Japan) Michelia alba DC., fam. Magnoliaceae 0.85%
Pineapple pulp Ananas comosus (L.) Merr., fam. Bromeliaceae 0.07%
Mango (Cameroon) headspace of ripe fruit 90063-86-0 Mangifera indica L., fam. Anacardiaceae 1.11%
Papaya (Cameroon) headspace of ripe fruit Carica papaya L., 1.19%