Allyl alcohol
Allyl alcohol is an organic compound with the structural formula CH2=CHCH2OH. Like many alcohols, it is a water-soluble, colourless liquid. However, it is more toxic than typical small alcohols. Allyl alcohol is used as a raw material for the production of glycerol, but is also used as a precursor to many specialized compounds such as flame-resistant materials, drying oils, and plasticizers. Allyl alcohol is the smallest representative of the allylic alcohols.
Production[edit | edit source]
Allyl alcohol can be obtained by many methods. The major industrial method to produce allyl alcohol involves the hydrolysis of allyl chloride:
CH2=CHCH2Cl + H2O → CH2=CHCH2OH + HCl
Allyl alcohol can also be made by the rearrangement of propylene oxide, a reaction that is catalyzed by potassium alum at high temperature. The advantage of this method is that propylene oxide is a relatively inexpensive raw material.
Uses[edit | edit source]
Allyl alcohol is converted mainly to glycerol, a reaction that proceeds via allyl chloride and allyl dichloride. It is also a precursor to synthetic glycerol, epichlorohydrin, allyl esters, and allylamine. Because the alcohol and the chloride are easily interchangeable, a wide variety of derivatives can be prepared.
Safety[edit | edit source]
Allyl alcohol is highly toxic both from acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) exposure. The LD50 for rats is 64 mg/kg. Allyl alcohol is classified as an extremely hazardous substance in the United States and is subject to strict reporting requirements.
See also[edit | edit source]
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