Detailed Product Description:

Acetaldehyde is a flammable liquid, organic chemical compound.  

It occurs naturally in ripe fruit, coffee, and bread, and is produced by

plants as part of their normal metabolism.  It is popularly known for

its ability to cause hangovers.

Grade/Purity:

This is Reagent Grade Material with a minimum purity of 99%.

Applications:

Acetaldehyde is a common 2-carbon building block in organic synthesis.

Because of its small size and its availability as the anhydrous monomer

(unlike formaldehyde), it is a common electrophile.  With respect to its

condensation reactions, acetaldehyde is prochiral.  It is mainly used as a

source of the CH3C+H(OH) synthon in aldol and related condensation reactions.

Grignard reagents and organolithium compounds react to give hydroxyethyl

derivatives.  In one of the more spectacular condensation reactions, three

equivalents of formaldehyde add to MeCHO to give pentaerythritol, C(CH2OH)4.

In a Strecker reaction, acetaldehyde condenses with cyanide and ammonia to give,

after hydrolysis, the amino acid alanine.  Acetaldehyde can condense with amines

to yield imines, such as the condensation with cyclohexylamine to give

N-ethylidenecyclohexylamine.  These imines can be used to direct subsequent

reactions like an aldol condensation.  It is also an important building block for

the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds.  A remarkable example is its conversion

upon treatment with ammonia to 5-ethyl-2-methylpyridine ("aldehyde-collidine”).

Biochemistry:

In the liver, the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase converts ethanol into acetaldehyde,

which is then further converted into harmless acetic acid by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase.

The last steps of alcoholic fermentation in bacteria, plants and yeast involve the

conversion of pyruvate into acetaldehyde by the enzyme pyruvate decarboxylase,

followed by the conversion of acetaldehyde into ethanol.  The latter reaction is again

catalyzed by an alcohol dehydrogenase, now operating in the opposite direction.

Acetaldehyde is a significant constituent of tobacco smoke.  It has been demonstrated

to have a synergistic effect with nicotine, increasing the onset and tenacity of addiction

to cigarette smoking, particularly in adolescents.

Precautions:

Unstable in air.  May undergo autopolymerization.  Forms explosive peroxides

on prolonged storage and exposure to air.  Polymerizes violently in the presence of

traces of metals or acids.  Toxic when applied externally for prolonged periods, an

irritant, and a probable carcinogen.  In addition, acetaldehyde is damaging

to DNA and causes abnormal muscle development as it binds to proteins.

Acetaldehyde is an air pollutant resulting from combustion, such as automotive

exhaust and tobacco smoke.  It is also created by thermal degradation of

polymers in the plastics processing industry.

Flammable, dangerous fire risk, moderately toxic by skin absorption and

inhalation.  Download, read, and understand precautions described in Material

Safety Data Sheet.

                Click here to download MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)

Packaging:

Comes packed in 250ml boston round, amber glass bottle.