MOLECULE

Isobutyl acetate

Acetic acid-2-methyl-propyl ester or 2-methylpropyl acetate or 2-methylpropyl ethanoate, also known as isobutylacetate, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as carboxylic acid esters. These are carboxylic acid derivatives in which the carbon atom from the carbonyl group is attached to an alkyl or an aryl moiety through an oxygen atom (forming an ester group). Isobutyl acetate is a clear, colorless liquid that is only slightly soluble in water (0.7 g/100 mL). Isobutyl acetate is produced from the esterification of isobutanol with acetic acid. Industrially, it is used as a solvent for lacquer and nitrocellulose. It is found naturally in many fruits such as raspberries and pears. Isobutyl aceteate has a sweet, apple, tropical, banana aroma and a similar fruity taste. At higher concentrations the odor can be unpleasant and may cause symptoms of central nervous system depression such as nausea, dizziness and headache. Isobutyl acetate has been detected, but not quantified in, several different fruits, such as muskmelons, sweet bay, asian pears, cocoa beans, figs, papaya and pineapple. This could make isobutyl acetate a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. Isobutyl acetate has also been found in Cannabis sativa (PMID: 6991645, 26657499).