Ethylvanillin

Properties
Names
	Other names 3-ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde
Identifiers
CAS Number	121-32-4;
ECHA InfoCard	100.004.059
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID5021968 ;
Properties
Molar mass	166.17 g/mol
Appearance	colourless solid
Melting point	77 – 78 °C
Solubility	organic solvents
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Ethylvanillin is the organic compound with the formula (C₂H₅O)(HO)C₆H₃CHO. This colourless solid consists of a benzene ring with hydroxyl, ethoxy, and formyl groups on the 4, 3, and 1 positions, respectively.

Preparation

Ethylvanillin is prepared via a multistep process from catechol, beginning with ethylation to give "guethol." This ether condenses with glyoxal to give the corresponding phenylglyoxylic acid derivative, which, after oxidation and decarboxylation, gives ethylvanillin.^[1]

Application

As a flavorant, ethylvanillin is about 3x as potent as vanillin and is thus used in the production of chocolate.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Karl-Georg Fahlbusch, Franz-Josef Hammerschmidt, Johannes Panten, Wilhelm Pickenhagen, Dietmar Schatkowski, Kurt Bauer, Dorothea Garbe, Horst Surburg Flavors and Fragrances" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, 2005: Weinheim. Published online: 15 January, 2003

[Ullmann-1] Karl-Georg Fahlbusch, Franz-Josef Hammerschmidt, Johannes Panten, Wilhelm Pickenhagen, Dietmar Schatkowski, Kurt Bauer, Dorothea Garbe, Horst Surburg Flavors and Fragrances" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, 2005: Weinheim. Published online: 15 January, 2003

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