Amyl alcohols are alcohols with the formula C5H11OH.[1] Eight are known. A mixture of amyl alcohols (also called amyl alcohol) can be obtained from fusel alcohol. Amyl alcohol is used as a solvent and in esterification, by which is produced amyl acetate and other products. The name amyl alcohol without further specification applies to the normal (straight-chain) form, 1-pentanol.[2]
| Common name | Structure | Type | Boiling point (°C)[3] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-pentanol or normal amyl alcohol | primary | Pentan-1-ol | 138.5 | ||
| 2-methyl-1-butanol or active amyl alcohol | primary | 2-Methylbutan-1-ol | 128.7 | ||
| 3-methyl-1-butanol or isoamyl alcohol or isopentyl alcohol | primary | 3-Methylbutan-1-ol | 131.2 | ||
| 2,2-dimethyl-1-propanol or neopentyl alcohol | primary | 2,2-Dimethylpropan-1-ol | 113.1 | ||
| 2-pentanol or sec-amyl alcohol or methyl (n) propyl carbinol | secondary | Pentan-2-ol | 118.8 | ||
| 3-methyl-2-butanol or sec-isoamyl alcohol or methyl isopropyl carbinol | secondary | 3-Methylbutan-2-ol | 113.6 | ||
| 3-Pentanol | secondary | Pentan-3-ol | 115.3 | ||
| 2-methyl-2-butanol or tert-amyl alcohol | tertiary | 2-Methylbutan-2-ol | 102 |
Three of these alcohols, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 2-pentanol, and 3-methyl-2-butanol (methyl isopropyl carbinol), contain stereocenters, and are therefore chiral and optically active.
The most important amyl alcohol is isoamyl alcohol, the chief one generated by fermentation in the production of alcoholic beverages and a constituent of fusel oil. The other amyl alcohols may be obtained synthetically.