Ethyl propionate is an
organic compound
In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. T ...
with formula C
2H
5O
2CCH
2CH
3. It is the ethyl
ester
In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an oxoacid (organic or inorganic) in which at least one hydroxyl group () is replaced by an alkoxy group (), as in the substitution reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. Glycerides a ...
of
propionic acid. It is a colorless volatile liquid with a pineapple-like odor. Some fruits such as kiwis and strawberries contain ethyl propionate in small amounts.
Uses and reactions
It is also used in the production of some antimalarial drugs including
pyrimethamine
Pyrimethamine, sold under the brand name Daraprim among others, is a medication used with leucovorin (leucovorin is used to decrease side effects of pyrimethamine; it does not have intrinsic anti-parasitic activity) to treat the parasitic dise ...
.
Ethyl propionate can be synthesized by the
Fischer esterification of
ethanol
Ethanol (abbr. EtOH; also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an organic compound. It is an alcohol with the chemical formula . Its formula can be also written as or (an ethyl group linked to a ...
and
propionic acid:
:CH
3CH
2OH + CH
3CH
2CO
2H → CH
3CH
2O
2CCH
2CH
3 + H
2O
It participates in condensation reactions by virtue of the weakly acidic methylene group.
See also
*
Methyl propionate
Methyl propionate, also known as methyl propanoate, is an organic compound with the molecular formula CH3CH2CO2CH3. It is a colorless liquid with a fruity, rum-like odor.
Preparation
Methyl propionate can be prepared by esterification of propion ...
, a similar compound
References
{{ester-stub
Propionate esters
Ethyl esters
Flavors