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Unknown Alcohol

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chrisbb:
OK, just done an experiment today.
The alochol has a smell like Almonds, or nuts.

Any ideas/hints what this may be.
I'll post again when i've cleared up my final results, like BP, Desnity etc :)

Arkcon:
IIRC, lots of things I made in organic chem class smelled like that, also with kinda acrid smell accompanying.  You will need the other physical data to really know what you have.

agrobert:
Many nitriles and benzaldehyde are known for this smell but as Arkcon said smell alone is not enough.

chrisbb:
OK, so here is the updated info:

Alcohol:
Observations = smells like nuts (maybe almonds), clear, kind of viscous
BP = 121.7oC
Refractive Index = 1.4022
Density = 0.71g/ml
I also did a Jones reagent test, and it reacted immdeiately (turning from orange to green in seconds) this indicates either a 1 or 2o alcohol.

I was asked to run the OH through an esterfication set-up, and it yielded:
Ester:
Observations = smells like nuts (maybe almonds), yellow/clear, kind of viscous
BP = 110.5oC
Refractive Index = 1.3955
Density = 0.67g/ml


Right, here is a list of esters that are possible. I'll only lsit the more "relavant ones";
* Fragrance, Ester name, BP760mm, Refractive Index, Density*

- Pear, n-propyl acetate, 102, 1.3842, 0.8878
- Solvent, s-butyl acetate, 112, 1.3877, 0.8758
- Fruity, isobutyl acetate, 117, 1.3902, 0.8712
- Pineappple, Ethyl Butyrate, 122, 1.4000, 0.8785

Before corrections on the BP and RI, this is my guess for the ester, but the IR is kinda hard to pick out the peaks. I have to know the alcohol, working backwards is the "key" i was told.
The peak cirlced on the OH scan is supposed to be a big hint whether it is a 1/2/3o OH, so any ideas, and I will take many :)

chrisbb:
Anyone have any other ideas for the IR scans?

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