{{chembox | Watchedfields = changed | verifiedrevid = 477004352 | Reference =<ref>''Merck Index'', 12th Edition, '''10042'''</ref> | Name = Ethyl pentanoate | ImageFile = Ethyl valerate.svg | ImageSize = | ImageName = | PIN = Ethyl pentanoate | OtherNames = Ethyl valerate |Section1={{Chembox Identifiers | ChemSpiderID_Ref = {{chemspidercite|correct|chemspider}} | ChemSpiderID = 10420 | PubChem = 10882 | EC_number = 208-726-1 | UNII = 95R258T4P6 | InChI = 1/C7H14O2/c1-3-5-6-7(8)9-4-2/h3-6H2,1-2H3 | InChIKey = ICMAFTSLXCXHRK-UHFFFAOYAC | ChEMBL_Ref = {{ebicite|correct|EBI}} | ChEMBL = 47483 | StdInChI_Ref = {{stdinchicite|correct|chemspider}} | StdInChI = 1S/C7H14O2/c1-3-5-6-7(8)9-4-2/h3-6H2,1-2H3 | StdInChIKey_Ref = {{stdinchicite|correct|chemspider}} | StdInChIKey = ICMAFTSLXCXHRK-UHFFFAOYSA-N | CASNo_Ref = {{cascite|correct|CAS}} | CASNo = 539-82-2 | SMILES = O=C(OCC)CCCC }} |Section2={{Chembox Properties | Formula = C<sub>7</sub>H<sub>14</sub>O<sub>2</sub> | MolarMass = 130.18 g/mol | Density = 0.877 g/cm<sup>3</sup> at 20 °C | MeltingPtC = −91 | BoilingPtC = 145 to 146 | Solubility = 2.21 mg/mL | SolubleOther = slightly soluble in ethanol | RefractIndex = 1.399-1.404 }} |Section7={{Chembox Hazards | GHS_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |last=PubChem |title=Ethyl valerate |url=https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/10882 |access-date=2026-05-16 |website=pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |language=en}}</ref> | GHSPictograms = {{GHS02}} | GHSSignalWord = Warning | HPhrases = {{H-phrases|226}} | PPhrases = {{P-phrases|P210|P233|P240|P241|P242|P243|P280|P303+P361+P353|P370+P378|P403+P235|P501}} | NFPA-H = 1 | NFPA-F = 3 | NFPA-R = }} }}
'''Ethyl pentanoate''', also commonly known as ethyl valerate, is an organic compound used in flavors. It is an ester with the molecular formula C<sub>7</sub>H<sub>14</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. It occurs naturally in fruits including apples, bananas, and strawberries as well as in fermented products such as cheese, whiskey, and cider.<ref name=Handbook />
== Properties == As is the case with most volatile esters, it has a pleasant aroma and taste. It is used as a food additive to impart a fruity flavor, particularly of apple. Its aroma is detectable at 1.5 to 6 ppb and taste at 30 ppm.<ref name=Handbook />
This colorless liquid is poorly soluble in water but miscible with organic solvents.
== Synthesis == Ethyl valerate is prepared by refluxing valeric acid and ethyl alcohol in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid.<ref name=Handbook>{{Cite book |last=Burdock |first=George A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pUEqBgAAQBAJ |title=Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients |date=2016-04-19 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-4200-9086-4 |language=en|page=673}}</ref>
Enzymatic methods including microwave- and ultrasound-assisted syntheses have been investigated as alternatives.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jaiswal |first=Kajal S. |last2=Rathod |first2=Virendra K. |date=March 2022 |title=Process Intensification of Enzymatic Synthesis of Flavor Esters: A Review |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/tcr.202100213 |journal=The Chemical Record |language=en |volume=22 |issue=3 |doi=10.1002/tcr.202100213 |issn=1527-8999|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Esters}}
Category:Ethyl esters Category:Food additives Category:Flavors Category:Valerate esters