1.  Quick Detail:

Product Name: Methyl benzoate

Synonyms: Benzoic acid methyl ester; clorius; essence of niobe; methyl benzenecarboxylate; Niobe oil; Oil of niobe; oniobe oil; oxidate le

CAS: 93-58-3

EINECS: 202-259-7

MF: C8H8O2

MW: 136.1479

Assay: 99%

Appearance: White powder

Density 1.069g/cm3

Melting point -12℃

Boiling point 199.5°C at 760 mmHg

Refractive index 1.509

Flash point 80.2°C

Water solubility <0.1 g/100 mL at 22.5℃

Vapour Pressur 0.34mmHg at 25°C

2.  Descriptions:

Methyl benzoate is an organic compound. It is an ester with the chemical formula C6H5CO2CH3. It is a colorless liquid that is poorly soluble in water, but miscible with organic solvents. Methyl benzoate has a pleasant smell, strongly reminiscent of the fruit of the feijoa tree, and it is used in perfumery. It also finds use as a solvent and as a pesticide used to attract insects such as orchid bees.

Methyl benzoate can be isolated from the freshwater fern Salvinia molesta. It is one of many compounds that is attractive to males of various species of orchid bees, which apparently gather the chemical to synthesize pheromones; it is commonly used as bait to attract and collect these bees for study.

Cocaine hydrochloride hydrolyzes in moist air to give methyl benzoate; drug-sniffing dogs are thus trained to detect the smell of methyl benzoate.