Benzoic Aldehyde
Synthetic Ingredient For Perfumery
Benzaldehyde, also known as benzoic aldehyde, is a synthetic ingredient first isolated in 1803 and now widely used in perfumery. It possesses a powerful, sweet almond-like odor and is versatile in adding special top-note effects to fragrances. With its fruity and woody notes, it enriches floral compositions and adds complexity to flavors in food and beverages.
Synthetic Ingredient For Perfumery
Benzaldehyde, also known as benzoic aldehyde, is a synthetic ingredient first isolated in 1803 and now widely used in perfumery. It possesses a powerful, sweet almond-like odor and is versatile in adding special top-note effects to fragrances. With its fruity and woody notes, it enriches floral compositions and adds complexity to flavors in food and beverages.
Synthetic Ingredient For Perfumery
Benzaldehyde, also known as benzoic aldehyde, is a synthetic ingredient first isolated in 1803 and now widely used in perfumery. It possesses a powerful, sweet almond-like odor and is versatile in adding special top-note effects to fragrances. With its fruity and woody notes, it enriches floral compositions and adds complexity to flavors in food and beverages.
Profile:
📂 CAS N° 100-52-7
⚖️ MW — 106.12 g/mol
📝 Odor Type — Fruity (almond)
📈 Odor Strength — The odor is very sharp, so smelling recommended at 10% solution or less.
👃🏼 Odor Profile — Powerful sweet odor, reminiscent of freshly crushed bitter Almonds. Very volatile, very harsh. If you pay enough attention, the almond note turns to cherry. Some people find a nutty facet.
👅 Flavor Profile — Fruity, Sweet, oily, almond, cherry, nutty and woody
⚗️ Uses — brown caramel, brown nuts, brown cocoa, brown coffee, brown others, dairy, fruity red, fruity yellow, fruity tropical, fruity others, sweet others, alcoholics. Used in perfumery for special top-note effects, and as a trace component in certain floral compositions (Lilac, Sweet Pea, etc.).
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Benzaldehyde was first isolated from bitter almonds in 1803 by the French chemist Pierre Robiquet, marking a significant milestone in the early study of organic compounds. Robiquet's extraction of benzaldehyde from natural sources demonstrated the potential of isolating specific compounds from plants, a practice that would become foundational in organic chemistry.
Throughout the 19th century, benzaldehyde remained a subject of interest for chemists due to its widespread natural occurrence and distinct properties. In 1832, the German chemist Friedrich Wöhler and Justus von Liebig conducted studies on benzaldehyde, further elucidating its chemical structure and properties. Their work contributed to the understanding of the benzene ring, a fundamental structure in organic chemistry.
Benzaldehyde is naturally present in various plants, particularly in the seeds and kernels of stone fruits such as almonds, apricots, cherries, and peaches. The presence of benzaldehyde in these seeds is typically in the form of amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside. When these seeds are crushed, chewed, or otherwise processed, amygdalin undergoes enzymatic hydrolysis to produce benzaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide, the latter being a toxic byproduct. This process explains the characteristic almond-like aroma of crushed stone fruit seeds.
The isolation and identification of benzaldehyde from natural sources played a crucial role in advancing organic chemistry techniques, such as distillation and extraction. As chemists developed methods to synthesize and manipulate organic molecules, benzaldehyde's relatively simple structure made it an ideal candidate for study and experimentation.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, industrial production of benzaldehyde began, primarily through the oxidation of toluene. This method provided a more efficient and scalable way to produce benzaldehyde compared to extraction from natural sources. Today, the majority of benzaldehyde used in various industries is synthetically produced, ensuring consistent quality and availability.
Benzaldehyde's discovery and subsequent research highlight its importance as a key molecule in the development of organic chemistry. Its role as a precursor in the synthesis of other aromatic compounds, as well as its practical applications in perfumery, flavoring, and pharmaceuticals, underscore its continued relevance in both scientific research and industrial applications.
References:
Bell, R. P. (1930). "The history of benzaldehyde." Journal of Chemical Education, 7(11), 2254-2260.
ChemSpider. (n.d.). Benzaldehyde. Retrieved from https://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.2386.html
PubChem. (n.d.). Benzaldehyde. Retrieved from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Benzaldehyde
The Merck Index. (2001). An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals (13th ed.). Merck & Co., Inc.
The benzoic aldehyde or Benzaldehyde was first extracted from bitter almonds in 1803 by the French pharmacist Martrès. In 1832, German chemists Friedrich Wöhler and Justus von Liebig first synthesized benzaldehyde.
The first Isolation of benzaldehyde happens in 1837.
In 1863 another Preparation of benzaldehyde - attributed to Cahour.
This chemical is regulated by government drug enforcement agencies and its use is subject to some restrictions.
🔬 Appearance:
It appears as a colorless or pale yellow liquid.
🌳 Natural Origin :
Naturally present as a glucoside in bitter almonds and apricot and peach seeds. 🏭 Industrial Production - Obtained mainly synthetically from toluene. 🧪 Production Methods - Chlorination or oxidation of toluene in the liquid phase, among others. ⚛️ Applications - Precursor for the synthesis of organic compounds, used in perfumery, pharmaceuticals, plastic additives and aniline dyes.Physical Properties
Melting Temperature :
26 °C (247 K), indicating a liquid phase even at low temperatures.
Boiling Temperature:
178 °C (451 K) at 1013 hPa, making it volatile at moderate temperatures.
Solubility in Water:
6 g/l at 20 °C, showing low miscibility with water.
Density :
1.0415 g/cm under standard conditions, useful for determining the volume occupied. Applications
Drugs:
Used as a precursor for drug synthesis.
Perfumery:
Important component for the preparation of perfumes and fragrances.
Plastics:
Used as an additive for the synthesis of plastics.
Dyes :
Precursor for the synthesis of aniline dyes.
Flavors:
Contributes to the aroma of bitter almonds, used in artificial flavors.
Sources:
National Center for Biotechnology Information (2020). PubChem Compound Summary for CID 240, Benzaldehyde. Retrieved November 25, 2020 from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Benzaldehyde.