Bensüülalkoholi

Bensüülalkoholi is an aromatic alcohol with the formula C6H5CH2OH. It is a colorless liquid with a faint, pleasant odor and is sparingly soluble in water but miscible with alcohols and ethers. It occurs naturally in some plants, such as jasmine, hyacinth, and ylang-ylang, and is a component of many essential oils.

Industrially, bensüülalkoholi is produced by the hydrolysis of bensüülhalides or by the reduction of bensüülaldehyde. It finds widespread use as a solvent for inks, paints, lacquers, and epoxy resins due to its low volatility and good solvency properties. It also serves as a preservative in pharmaceutical preparations, cosmetics, and personal care products, where its antimicrobial activity helps prevent spoilage. In the food industry, it is used as a flavoring agent. Its applications extend to the textile industry as a dye-stripping agent and in photographic development. Bensüülalkoholi is generally considered safe for its intended uses, though it can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.