Geranyl Acetate (oil of citronella, petit grain, lemon-grass, coriander, lavender, Winter Savory, White Thyme, Spanish Savory)

A. Geranyl Acetate

Chemical Structure 3, 7-Dimethyl-2, 6-octadien-8-acetate; (C₁₂H₂₀O₂). It is an olefenic terpene acetate mostly found in a number of essential oils.

Occurrence The ester is very widely distributed in a variety of essential oils, such as: oil of citronella, petit grain, lemon-grass, coriander, lavender etc. It is also found in Satureja montana L. (Lamiaceae)-Winter Savory, White Thyme, Spanish Savory; and Tilia europaea L. (Tiliaceae)- Lime Tree (Europe), Linden Tree (America).

Isolation It may be obtained from the rich source of volatile oil containing greanyl acetate by fractional distillation under vacuum.

Characteristic Features It is a colourless liquid having a pleasant aromatic fragrance resembling to that of rose. It boils at 242-245°C with decomposition at atmospheric pressure.

Identification The ester on saponification with alcoholic KOH yields geraniol and acetic acid as the products of reaction. The former may be identified by examining its physical parameters, for instance: bp₇₅₇ 229-230°C; bp₁₂ 114-115°C; d²⁰₄ 0.8894; n²⁰_D 1.4766; uvmax 190-195 nm (ε 18000).

Uses

1. It is used abundantly in perfumery.

2. It is also employed in making cosmetics and various types of toilet soaps.