Pentaerythritol

Chemical properties

Pentaerythritol is a white crystalline solid. Odorless.

The Uses of Pentaerythritol

In the manufacture of pentaerythritol tetranitrate; alkyd resins in surface-coating compositions; pentaerythritol triacrylate and protective coatings; insecticides; pharmaceuticals

The Uses of Pentaerythritol

Pentaerythritol is a compound most commonly used in cosmetics (in its rosinate form). It is used as a skin conditioning agent (used as part of a cream base in lotions), and is also used to increase viscosity of cosmetic formulations.

The Uses of Pentaerythritol

Pentaerythritol is a versatile starting material to synthesize various dendrimers and star-shaped polymers. It is widely used in the preparation of flame-retardant epoxy resins and polymer composites. It is also used in the synthesis of the vasodilator, pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN).

Definition

pentaerythritol: white crystallinecompound, C(CH₂OH)₄; m.p.260°C; b.p. 276°C (30 mmHg). It isused in making the explosive pentaerythritoltrinitrate and in producingresins and other organicproducts.

General Description

Odorless white solid. Sinks and mixes slowly with water.

Air & Water Reactions

Water soluble.

Reactivity Profile

Pentaerythritol is an alcohol. Pentaerythritol is incompatible with the following: Organic acids, oxidizers [Note: Explosive compound is formed when a mixture of PE & thiophosphoryl chloride is heated.] .

Reactivity Profile

The four primary hydroxyl groups undergo the normal reactions of OH groups. Pentaerythritol is oxidized to tris (hydroxymethyl)acetic acid by air in the presence of platinum or palladium.

Health Hazard

Non-toxic; no symptoms likely

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

Safety Profile

Mildly toxic by ingestion. A nuisance dust. Flammable from heat or flame or oxidizers. Wxtures with thiophosphoryl chloride react when heated to form a product that ignites and then explodes on contact with air. Used in coatings, stabdizers, explosives, P.E.T.N resins, drugs, insecticides, and lubricants When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes

Potential Exposure

Pentaerythritol is used in coatings and stabilizers; in the formation of alkyd resins and varnishes. It is used as an intermediate in the manufacture of plasticizers, explosives (PETN),and pharmaceuticals.

Shipping

UN1987 Alcohols, n.o.s., Hazard Class: 3; Labels: 3-Flammable liquid.

Purification Methods

Reflux pentaerythritol with an equal volume of MeOH, then cool, and the precipitate is collected and dried at 90o. It can also be crystallised from dilute aqueous HCl. After sublimation under high vacuum at 200o it has m 265.5o. Its solubility in H2O is 10%. [Beilstein 18 III 2361, 1 IV 2812.]

Incompatibilities

Dust may form explosive mixture with air. Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong acids, organic acids, strong bases. Aquesous solution is acidic. Explosive compound is formed when a mixture of Pentaerythritol and thiophosphoryl chloride (CAS 3892-91-0) is heated.