Database/Perfuming/Ethyl 2-Methylbutyrate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Ethyl 2-Methylbutyrate natural?

It depends. 2-Methylbutyric acid comes from fusel-oil oxidation (natural, prized for apple-flavour) or petrochemical synthesis; ethanol is fermentation-derived.

INCI nameEthyl 2-Methylbutyrate
CAS7452-79-1
FormulaC7H14O2 · 130.18 Da
FunctionPerfuming
FeedstockMade by esterifying 2-methylbutyric acid, which can be…

Why the score varies

This ingredient is made commercially by more than one route, and ISO 16128 scores the feedstock actually used. Without a supplier certificate of origin the value cannot be claimed.

RouteFeedstockNOIShareNotes
fusel-oil 2-methylbutyric acid + bioethanolfermentation fusel oil1.00~35%
petrochemical 2-methylbutyric acid + bioethanolpetrochemical synthesis0.35~65%
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

2-Methylbutyric acid (102Da) + ethanol (46Da) minus H2O=130Da; natural-acid route 130/130=1.0, petrochemical-acid route 45/130=0.35. Headline shows the best route (1.00), as for every route-dependent entry on the site.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Made by esterifying 2-methylbutyric acid, which can be recovered from fusel oil or synthesised petrochemically, with fermentation ethanol. Natural fusel-oil-derived acid is a real but minority supply route.

In plain English

An apple-scented fragrance ingredient. It can be made from a natural fermentation byproduct or from petroleum-based chemistry, depending on the supplier.

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Structure

2D structure of Ethyl 2-Methylbutyrate

ethyl 2-methylbutanoate

PubChem CID 24020 ↗

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2Ethyl 2-Methylbutyrate. PubChem CID 24020. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ETHYL 2-METHYLBUTYRATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ETHYL 2-METHYLBUTYRATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ETHYL%202-METHYLBUTYRATE