C6H5CHCHCOOR

C6H5CHCHCOOR is a shorthand notation used to represent a class of aryl esters in which a phenyl group (C6H5) is linked through a carbon chain to a carboxylate ester functional group (COOR). The exact properties depend on the nature of R, the substituent on the ester oxygen, and on whether the two carbon atoms between the phenyl ring and the carbonyl are unsaturated.

In common usage, this motif appears in two related families. If the fragment between the ring and the carbonyl contains a carbon–carbon double bond, the compound is a cinnamate ester, such as methyl cinnamate (C6H5–CH=CH–COOCH3) or ethyl cinnamate (C6H5–CH=CH–COOCH2CH3). If the chain is saturated (Ar–CH–CH–COOR with single bonds), the structure corresponds to a saturated aryl-ester, sometimes described as a beta-aryl ester.

Synthesis typically involves esterification of a suitable carboxylic acid derivative with an alcohol (R–OH) under acidic catalysis, or formation of an acyl chloride followed by alcoholysis. For cinnamate esters, the corresponding cinnamic acid derivatives are esterified with the chosen alcohol.

Applications and occurrences: cinnamate esters are used widely in flavors and fragrances (for example, methyl and ethyl cinnamate are common fragrance ingredients). Some cinnamate esters also serve as UV-absorbing agents in cosmetics and polymers (notably certain methox cinnamates and related esters used as UV filters). The R group on the ester influences volatility, solubility, and sensory or UV-absorbing properties.

Safety and handling: as with many esters, handling should follow standard laboratory guidelines and product-specific safety data sheets.