Butyl oleate is a fatty acid ester and an organic chemical found in liquid form. It has the formula C<sub>22</sub>H<sub>42</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and the CAS Registry Number 142-77-8. It is REACH registered and produced or imported into the European Union with the EC number of 205-559-6.
It is formed by the condensation of oleic acid and butanol often using an enzyme as catalyst or other biobased catalysts. Ionic liquids may also be used as the catalyst. It undergoes the BouveaultâÂÂBlanc reduction with oleyl alcohol and butanol as the products.
It is also known as Butyl cis-9-octadecenoate, Oleic acid butyl ester, butyl 9-octadecenoate and 1-butyl oleate. The IUPAC name is butyl (Z)-octadec-9-enoate.
It has approval for use as a food additive in Europe and also the US by the FDA. Various other uses include as a lubricant and lubricant additive, paints and coatings additive, and as a plasticizer especially for PVC. Similar to other fatty acid esters, it has found use in biodiesel and as a fuel additive.