Benzyl Benzoate BP Grade
Ph Eur
C14H12O2 -- 212.2 -- 120-51-4
DEFINITION
Phenylmethyl benzoate.
Content: 99.0 per cent to 100.5 per cent.
CHARACTERS
Appearance: Colourless or almost colourless crystals or colourless or almost
colourless, oily liquid.
Solubility: Practically insoluble in water, miscible with ethanol (96 per
cent), with methylene chloride and with fatty and essential oils.
IDENTIFICATION
First identificationıA.
Second identificationıB, C.
A. Infrared absorption spectrophotometry (2.2.24). ComparisonıPh. Eur. reference
spectrum of benzyl benzoate.
B. To 2 g add 25 ml of alcoholic potassium hydroxide solution and boil under a
reflux condenser for 2 h. Remove the ethanol on a water-bath, add 50 ml of water and
distill. Collect about 25 ml of distillate and use it for identification test C.
Acidify the liquid remaining in the distillation flask with dilute hydrochloric
acid. A white precipitate is formed that, when washed with water and dried in vacuum
melts at 121 °C to 124 °C.
C. To the distillate obtained in identification test B add 2.5 g of potassium
permanganate and 5 ml of dilute sodium hydroxide solution. Boil under a reflux
condenser for 15 min, cool and filter. Acidify the filtrate with dilute hydrochloric
acid. A white precipitate is formed that, when washed with water and dried in
vacuum, melts at 121 to 124C.
TESTS
Acidity: Dissolve 2.0 g in ethanol (96 per cent) R and dilute to 10 ml with
the same solvent. Titrate with 0.1 M sodium hydroxide using phenolphthalein solution
R as indicator. Not more than 0.2 ml is required to change the colour of the
indicator to pink.
Relative density: 1.118 to 1.122.
Refractive index: 1.568 to 1.570.
Freezing point: Minimum 17.0 °C.
Sulphated ash: Maximum 0.1 per cent, determined on 1.0 g.
