Methyl 2-Bromooctanoate: Description, Properties, and Key Details

What is Methyl 2-Bromooctanoate?

Methyl 2-Bromooctanoate sits among the class of organic bromides that serve as building blocks in advanced chemical synthesis. The compound falls under fatty acid methyl esters, specifically a methyl ester where a bromine atom attaches at the second carbon of an eight-carbon octanoic backbone. The molecular formula, C9H17BrO2, points to nine carbons, seventeen hydrogens, one bromine, and two oxygen atoms tied in a structure that delivers moderate polarity and measurable bioactivity. The structural fragment includes a straight-chain alkyl group, with the bromine influencing reactivity and adding steric and electronic characteristics uncommon in shorter or non-halogenated esters.

Properties, Structure, and Key Material Characteristics

A hands-on description starts with physical shape. Methyl 2-Bromooctanoate most often appears as a colorless to light yellow liquid at room temperature, but under lower temperatures or storage in cold environments, it assumes a somewhat waxy state, looking a little like crystalline flakes or coarse powder, especially when moisture is limited and the sample is pure. The solid, powder, or pearls-like state can arise depending on storage and transport conditions, offering convenience to laboratory and industrial handlers. Its density stays near 1.18 g/mL at 25°C, reflecting the presence of the bromine atom with its heavier atomic mass relative to unsubstituted methyl octanoate. Melting point trends low—often around -18˚C—while the boiling point measures roughly 254–255°C under standard atmospheric conditions, enough for typical fractionating columns or rotary evaporation units that handle such compounds.

Looking at its reactivity, the bromine at the alpha position increases the electrophilicity of the ester, making Methyl 2-Bromooctanoate a reliable intermediate for carbon-chain extension, nucleophilic substitution, or even in pharmaceutical syntheses where functional group tolerance matters. Experienced bench chemists know that the methyl ester functionality can be hydrolyzed to yield corresponding acids, and the alpha-bromo moiety opens up routes for further transformations like Grignard reactions, Wittig steps, or coupling. It dissolves well in most organic solvents—diethyl ether, dichloromethane, toluene—due to the fatty tail, less so in water. In bulk use, the raw material form draws interest from those making specialty surfactants, flavors, or fine chemicals.

Specifications: Technical Data and Standard Metrics

Typical industry specifications require purity exceeding 97% by gas chromatography, sometimes reaching as high as 99.5% for pharmaceutical synthesis. The product is usually free-flowing, though minute traces of water or alcohols may cloud clarity. Assay accuracy matters because side products or residual starting materials complicate purification or downstream chemistry. Residual solvents, often methanol or dichloromethane, need monitoring, and the standard HS Code for international transport aligns with organic chemicals and esters, usually under code 2915.90 for customs and regulatory declaration. The pH of a neat solution sits near neutrality; mixed aqueous samples may drift slightly acidic due to hydrolysis over time.

Safety, Risks, and Handling Protocols

Practical experience around methyl 2-bromooctanoate says safety isn't a box-ticking exercise. The compound counts as harmful upon skin contact or inhalation because alkyl bromides commonly react with biological molecules. Typical symptoms follow accidental exposure include irritation, burning, and in bad cases, delayed blistering or acute intoxication. Chemical burns need quick rinsing, and those handling bulk quantities should let experience guide judicious use of nitrile gloves, goggles, and well-fitted lab coats. Inhalation needs real attention in less-than-ideal ventilation. Storage requires sealed containers, away from heat sources and incompatible chemicals like strong bases or strong reducing agents. The raw material may also class under hazardous goods regulations during transport, needing UN-approved drums or glass bottles with appropriate hazard pictograms. Waste disposal relies on incineration or chemical neutralization, not simple landfill or drain disposal—local regulation and responsible stewardship decide the rest.

Role as Raw Material and Industrial Relevance

Large-scale processors and skilled chemists count on methyl 2-bromooctanoate as a dependable intermediate for synthesizing more complex molecules. Its functionality enables carbon elongation, introduction of new functional groups, and delivery of chain-modified acids or esters used in agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and performance materials. The ester group offers hydrolytic control, while the bromine changes the normal electron flow through the molecule, making it more flexible under catalytic or base-promoted conditions. Find it in materials chemistry, fragrance modifiers, and crop protection pipelines. The value comes from predictability—reactions produce consistent yields with manageable by-products. It stands as a clear example in textbooks and industrial catalogs of how halogen-functionalized esters open the door to tailored molecular design with well-characterized risks and clear utility.

Potential Solutions and Responsible Use

Controlling environmental and health impacts starts at the planning stage. Labs and factories use advanced ventilation and closed-system approaches, capturing volatilized bromides before workers face exposure. Spill kits, eye stations, and clear labeling help new staff learn quickly. Audits by safety specialists and environmental compliance officers set minimum standards for handling and storage, which keeps hazards low over years of use. Switching to less hazardous alternatives proves difficult when the unique reactivity of methyl 2-bromooctanoate remains necessary; mitigation becomes the focus instead. Training workers, using the right PPE, equipping storage rooms, and choosing recyclable containment lowers the real world risk. Regular review of emerging safety data and periodic upgrades to procedures put safety in step with new chemical insights and regulatory requirements.