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Benzyl benzoate


Benzyl benzoate
Systematic (IUPAC) name
benzyl benzoate
Identifiers
CAS number	120-51-4
ATC code	P03AX01
PubChem	2345
DrugBank	APRD00821
Chemical data
Formula	C₁₄H₁₂O₂
Mol. mass	212.244 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Metabolism	?
Half life	?
Excretion	?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status
Routes	?

Benzyl benzoate is the organic compound with the formula C₆H₅CH₂O₂CC₆H₅. This easily prepared compound has a variety of uses.

Synthesis

This colourless liquid is formally the condensation product of benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol. It can also be generated from benzaldehyde by the Tishchenko reaction.^[1]

2 C₆H₅CHO → C₆H₅CH₂O₂CC₆H₅

Benzyl benzoate has a number of uses:

As an antiparasitic insecticide that kills lice and the mites responsible for the skin condition scabies
As a fixative in fragrances to improve the stability and other characteristics of the main ingredients
As a food additive in artificial flavors
As a plasticizer in cellulose and other polymers
As a solvent for various chemical reactions
As a treatment for sweet itch in horses

Benzyl benzoate should be avoided by people with perfume allergy^[2].

^ Kamm, O.; Kamm, W. F. "Benzyl benzoate" Organic Syntheses, Collected Volume 1, p.104 (1941)
^ Survey and health assessment of chemical substances in massage oils

v • d • e Ectoparasiticides (P03)
Sulfur-containing products	Disulfiram
Chlorine-containing products	Lindane
Pyrethrines, including synthetic compounds	Pyrethrum · Phenothrin · Permethrin
Other ectoparasiticides, including scabicides	Benzyl benzoate · Malathion · Quassia