Methyl cinnamate is the methyl ester of cinnamic acid and is a white or transparent solid with a strong, aromatic odor. It is found naturally in a variety of plants, including in fruits, like strawberry, and some culinary spices, such as Sichuan pepper and some varieties of basil.[3] Eucalyptus olida has the highest known concentrations of methyl cinnamate (98%) with a 2–6% fresh weight yield in the leaf and twigs.[4]
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| Names | |
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| Preferred IUPAC name
Methyl (2E)-3-phenylprop-2-enoate | |
| Other names
Methyl cinnamate
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| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol)
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| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.002.813 |
| EC Number |
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| KEGG | |
PubChem CID
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| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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| Properties | |
| C10H10O2 | |
| Molar mass | 162.188 g·mol−1 |
| Density | 1.092 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 34–38 °C (93–100 °F; 307–311 K) |
| Boiling point | 261–262 °C (502–504 °F; 534–535 K) |
| Insoluble | |
| Hazards | |
| Flash point | > 110 °C (230 °F; 383 K) |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Methyl cinnamate is used in the flavor and perfume industries. The flavor is fruity and strawberry-like; and the odor is sweet, balsamic with fruity odor, reminiscent of cinnamon and strawberry.[1]
It is known to attract males of various orchid bees, such as Aglae caerulea.[5]
List of plants that contain the chemical
- Eucalyptus olida 'Strawberry
- Ocotea quixos American Cinnamon, Ishpingo[6]
- Ocimum americanum cv.Purple Lovingly (Querendona Morada)
- Ocimum americanum cv. Purple Castle (Castilla Morada)
- Ocimum americanum cv. Purple Long-legged (Zancona morada)
- Ocimum americanum cv. Clove (Clavo)
- Ocimum basilicum cv. Sweet Castle (Dulce de Castilla)
- Ocimum basilicum cv. White Compact (Blanca compacta)
- Ocimum basilicum cv. large green leaves (Verde des horjas grandes)
- Ocimum micranthum cv. Cinnamon (Canela)
- Ocimum minimum cv. Little Virgin (Virgen pequena)
- Ocimum minimum cv. Purple Virgin (Virgen morada)
- Ocimum sp. cv. Purple ruffle (Crespa morada)
- Ocimum sp. cv. White Ruffle (Crespa blanca)
- Stanhopea embreei, an orchid
- Vanilla
Toxicology and safety
Moderately toxic by ingestion. The oral LD50 for rats is 2610 mg/kg.[7] It is combustible as a liquid, and when heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.
Compendial status
See also
References
- ^ a b Methyl cinnamate, at goodscents.com
- ^ Methyl cinnamate, at Sigma-Aldrich
- ^ Viña, Amparo; Murillo, Elizabeth (2003). "Essential oil composition from twelve varieties of basil (Ocimum spp) grown in Colombia". Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society. 14 (5): 744. doi:10.1590/S0103-50532003000500008.
- ^ Boland DJ, Brophy JJ, House APN (1991). Eucalyptus Leaf Oils. ISBN 0-909605-69-6.
- ^ Williams, N.H.; Whitten, W.M. (1983). "Orchid floral fragrances and male euglossine bees: methods and advances in the last sesquidecade". Biol. Bull. 164 (3): 355–395. doi:10.2307/1541248.
- ^ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814603003698
- ^ Richard J. Lewis (1989). Food Additives Handbook. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 304–. ISBN 978-0-442-20508-9.
- ^ Therapeutic Goods Administration (1999). "Approved Terminology for Medicines" (PDF). Retrieved 29 June 2009.
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