2methylpentanoic

2-Methylpentanoic acid is a branched-chain carboxylic acid with the chemical formula C6H12O2. It is an isomer of hexanoic acid and has a total of six carbon atoms. The structure consists of a five-carbon chain with a methyl group attached to the second carbon atom, and a carboxyl group (-COOH) at the end of the chain. This compound is also known by other names, including alpha-methylvaleric acid.

At room temperature, 2-methylpentanoic acid typically appears as a liquid with a characteristic odor. Its physical properties, such as boiling point and melting point, are influenced by its branched structure compared to its linear isomer, hexanoic acid. It is generally soluble in organic solvents and has limited solubility in water.

2-Methylpentanoic acid can be found in nature, sometimes as a component of essential oils or as a metabolic byproduct in some organisms. It can also be synthesized in laboratories through various organic chemistry reactions. Its applications are limited, but it may be used as a building block in the synthesis of other organic compounds, such as esters, which can have applications in flavors, fragrances, or as plasticizers. Further research into its specific industrial uses is ongoing.