Caprylic acid

Fatty acid (CH3−(CH2)6−COOH) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Caprylic acid

Caprylic acid (from Latin capra 'goat'), also known under the systematic name octanoic acid or C8 Acid, is a saturated fatty acid, medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA). It has the structural formula H3C−(CH2)6COOH, and is a colorless oily liquid that is minimally soluble in water with a slightly unpleasant rancid-like smell and taste.[1] Salts and esters of octanoic acid are known as octanoates or caprylates. The name of the related acyl group is octanoyl, capryloyl, or caprylyl.[5] It is a common industrial chemical, which is produced by oxidation of the C8 aldehyde.[6] Its compounds are found naturally in the milk of various mammals and as a minor constituent of coconut oil and palm kernel oil.[2]

Quick Facts Names, Identifiers ...
Caprylic acid
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Skeletal formula
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Ball-and-stick model
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Octanoic acid
Other names
1-Heptanecarboxylic acid
Octylic acid
Octoic acid
C8:0 (lipid numbers)
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.004.253
EC Number
  • 204-677-5
KEGG
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C8H16O2/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8(9)10/h2-7H2,1H3,(H,9,10) Y
    Key: WWZKQHOCKIZLMA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
  • InChI=1/C8H16O2/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8(9)10/h2-7H2,1H3,(H,9,10)
    Key: WWZKQHOCKIZLMA-UHFFFAOYAH
  • CCCCCCCC(=O)O
Properties
C8H16O2
Molar mass 144.214 g/mol
Appearance Oily colorless liquid
Odor Faint, fruity-acid; irritating
Density 0.910 g/cm3[1]
Melting point 16.7 °C (62.1 °F; 289.8 K)[2]
Boiling point 239.7 °C (463.5 °F; 512.8 K)[1]
0.068 g/100 mL[1]
Solubility Soluble in alcohol, chloroform, ether, CS2, petroleum ether, acetonitrile
log P 3.05
Vapor pressure 0.25 Pa
Acidity (pKa)
  • 4.89[3]
  • 1.055 (2.06–2.63 K)
  • 1.53 (−191 °C)
−101.60·10−6 cm3/mol
1.4285
Thermochemistry
297.9 J/K·mol
−636 kJ/mol
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS05: Corrosive[4]
Danger
H314
P264, P280, P301+P330+P331, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340+P310, P305+P351+P338+P310, P363, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
Flash point 130 °C (266 °F; 403 K)
440 °C (824 °F; 713 K)
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
10.08 g/kg (orally in rats)[1]
Related compounds
Related compounds
Heptanoic acid, nonanoic acid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Two other acids are named after goats via the Latin word capra: caproic acid (C6) and capric acid (C10). Together, these three fatty acids comprise 15% of the fatty acids in goat milk fat.

Uses

Summarize
Perspective

Caprylic acid is used commercially in the production of esters used in perfumery and also in the manufacture of dyes.[citation needed]

Caprylic acid is an antimicrobial pesticide used as a food contact surface sanitizer in commercial food handling establishments on dairy equipment, food processing equipment, breweries, wineries, and beverage processing plants. It is also used as disinfectant in health care facilities and public places. In addition, caprylic acid is used as an algicide, bactericide, fungicide, and herbicide in nurseries, greenhouses, garden centers, and interiors, and on ornamentation. Products containing caprylic acid are formulated as soluble concentrate/liquids and ready-to-use liquids.[7]

Caprylic acid plays an important role in the body's regulation of energy input and output, a function which is performed by the hormone ghrelin. The sensation of hunger is a signal that the body requires an input of energy in the form of food consumption. Ghrelin stimulates hunger by triggering receptors in the hypothalamus. In order to activate these receptors, ghrelin must undergo a process called acylation in which it acquires an acyl group, and caprylic acid provides this by linking at a specific serine site on ghrelin molecules. Other fatty acids in the same position have similar effects on hunger.[citation needed]

The acyl chloride of caprylic acid is used in the synthesis of perfluorooctanoic acid.[8]

Dietary uses

Caprylic acid is taken as a dietary supplement. In the body, caprylic acid would be found as octanoate, or unprotonated caprylic acid.[9]

Some studies have shown that medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) can help in the process of excess calorie burning, and thus weight loss;[10][11][12][13][14] however, a systematic review of the evidence concluded that the overall results are inconclusive.[15] Also, interest in MCTs has been shown by endurance athletes and the bodybuilding community, but MCTs have not been found to be beneficial to exercise performance.[14]

Medical uses

Caprylic acid has been studied as part of a ketogenic diet to treat children with intractable epilepsy.[16] Caprylic acid is currently being researched as a treatment for essential tremor.[16][17]

See also

References

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