Linalool CAS 78-70-6

English name	Linalool
Chinese name	芳樟醇
CAS	78-70-6
Molecular formula	C10H18O
Molecular weight	154.25
EINECS	201-134-4
Melting point	25°C
Boiling point	194-197 °C/720 mmHg (lit.)
Bulk density	/
Density	0.87 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)
Vapor density	/
Vapor pressure	0.17 mm Hg ( 25 °C)
Storage conditions	2-8°C
Solubility	Ethanol: Soluble in 1 ml/4 ml, transparent, colorless (60% ethanol)
Form	Liquid
Color	Transparent and colorless to light yellow
Smell type	floral

Linalool, also known as linalyl alcohol or sandalwood alcohol, is a terpene alcohol and one of the famous aromatic compounds. It is a mixture of two isomers (α-linalool and β-linalool). It can be extracted from the camphor oil of the cypress tree or synthesized from α-pinene or β-pinene in turpentine oil. It is a colorless oily liquid that is easily soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol, ethylene glycol, and ether, but insoluble in water and glycerol. It is prone to isomerization, but relatively stable in alkaline solutions. Density (25℃) 0.860 - 0.867, refractive index (20℃) 1.4610 - 1.4640, optical rotation (20℃) -12° - -18°, boiling point 197 - 199℃, Chemicalbook flash point (open type) 78℃. The alcohol content is over 95%. Linalool is an important fragrance compound, used in floral fragrance essences, perfumes, soaps, and other aromatic industries. It is widely used in blending floral essential oils such as lily, cinnamon, sweet pea, and orange blossom, as well as in the blending of amber-type fragrances, oriental-type fragrances, and aldehyde-type fragrances, and as a food fragrance. It can also be used as lemon, sour lemon, orange, grape, apricot, pineapple, plum, peach, cardamom, cocoa, and chocolate fragrances. The alcohol content is 92.5%. In the pharmaceutical industry, it is an important raw material for preparing isopentanol, an intermediate for the production of vitamin E. It can also be used as a raw material for the manufacture of valuable fragrances such as acetic linalyl ester and other esters. 

Farnesol is a branched-chain terpene alcohol with two double bonds. Due to the presence of asymmetric carbon atoms, it has three optical isomers. In nature, all three isomers exist, with the l-isomer having the highest content, accounting for approximately 70% to 80% of the total. The l-isomer is mostly found in essential oils such as farnesol (about 80-90%), geranium oil, lavender oil, lemon oil, neroli oil, sweet orange oil, rosemary oil, galangal oil, lemon oil, rose oil, ylang-ylang oil, etc.; the d-isomer is mostly found in coriander oil (about 60-70%), sweet orange oil, nutmeg oil, etc.; and the dl-isomer is found in fennel oil, jasmine oil, etc. All three are colorless oily transparent liquids. They have a scent similar to that of lily and citrus. Additionally, due to the proximity of the hydroxyl group to the allyl group, its chemical properties are significantly influenced. In the presence of metallic sodium in an ethanol solution, it can be easily reduced to dihydro-octadecene; in the presence of platinum catalyst or ronla-nickel catalyst, it can be reduced to tetrahydro-farnesol, becoming a saturated alcohol. As it is a tertiary alcohol, it can undergo isomerization in a strongly acidic medium; while in a weakly acidic medium, it dehydrates to form an ester. 

Adl 0 - 0.5 mg/kg (FAO/WHO. 1994). GRAS (FDA, §182.60, 2000). According to the data provided by RIFM, the acute toxicity data of linalool: oral LD50 2.8 g/kg (rat), skin test LD50 5.6 g/kg (rabbit). 

Linalool is a colorless liquid with a scent similar to bergamot (lemon-scented). It is insoluble in water and miscible with ethanol and ether. The aroma of linalool varies depending on its source. The aroma of natural linalool (isolated compound) is different from that of synthetic linalool. Natural linalool generally has a more refreshing and penetrating aroma, but it is often not a single aroma, while the aroma of synthetic linalool is generally more pure and mild (with the exception of poor quality). The aroma of natural linalool from different plants is also different. The isolated aroma from rosewood oil is a refreshing and sweet woody fragrance; the isolated aroma from jasmine leaf oil is the best, more floral, which may be due to the presence of trace amounts of other fragrant components; the isolated aroma from linalool oil is inferior, often with an aroma of camphor and other substances (this may be due to the defect of processing and refinement). 

Linalool has a sweet, typical floral and woody aroma, and has a fresh lily fragrance. Linalool is one of the most commonly used fragrance ingredients in perfume and cosmetic fragrance formulations. It is mainly used to blend floral fragrances such as lily, orange blossom, and lilac, as well as fruity fragrances such as jasmine, rose, and Chemicalbook rose. It can also be used to synthesize many other fragrances and is an intermediate in the synthesis of VE. China's GB2760-96 stipulates it as a temporarily permitted edible fragrance. It is mainly used to prepare fragrances for fruits, peaches, chocolate, etc., and spice and condiment fragrances. It is also used to blend artificial essential oils such as orange leaves, fragrant lemons, lavender, and mixed lavender oil. It is widely used in soap fragrances. It can also be used in edible fragrances. 

Linalool is an important fragrance ingredient. It is a blending raw material for various artificial essential oils and is also widely used in the production of various esters of linalool. Linalool and its ester-based perfume and other cosmetic formulations hold an important position. Linalool can be oxidized to produce citral, and it can also be used to synthesize many other fragrances.