Template:Chembox Pentaerythritol is an organic compound with the formula C(CH2OH)4. The molecular structure can be described as a neopentane with one hydrogen atom in each methyl group replaced by a hydroxyl (–OH) group. It is therefore a polyol, specifically a tetrol.
Pentaerythritol is a white solid. It is a building block for the synthesis and production of explosives, plastics, paints, appliances, cosmetics, and many other commercial products.
The word pentaerythritol is a blend of penta- in reference to its five carbon atoms and erythritol, which also possesses 4 alcohol groups.
SynthesisEdit
Pentaerythritol was first reported in 1891 by German chemist Bernhard Tollens and his student P. Wigand.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> It may be prepared via a base-catalyzed multiple-addition reaction between acetaldehyde and 3 equivalents of formaldehyde to give pentaerythrose (CAS: 3818-32-4), followed by a Cannizzaro reaction with a fourth equivalent of formaldehyde to give the final product plus formate ion.<ref name="Schurink1941">Template:OrgSynth</ref>
UsesEdit
Pentaerythritol is a versatile building block for the preparation of many compounds,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> particularly polyfunctionalized derivatives. applications include alkyd resins, varnishes, polyvinyl chloride stabilizers, tall oil esters, antioxidants (e.g. Anox 20). Such derivatives are found in plastics, paints, cosmetics, and many other products. Relevant to resins, pentaerythritol is a precursor to other polyol, such as dipentaerythritol:<ref>Template:Ullmann</ref>
Esters of pentaerythitol are biodegradable,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and they are used as transformer oils.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Due to a very high flash point they also find some use in lubricating gas turbines.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Ester derivativesEdit
Pentaerythritol is a precursor to esters of the type C(CH2OX)4. Such derivatives are pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), a vasodilator and explosive, the trinitrate derivative pentrinitrol (Petrin), the tetraacetate normosterol (PAG), and the polymer cross-linking agents pentaerythritol tetraacrylate and pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate).<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
A linear polymer which can be described as a (spiro) orthocarbonate ester of pentaerythritol, whose formula could be written as Template:Chem2, was synthesized in 2002.<ref name=voda2002>David T. Vodak, Matthew Braun, Lykourgos Iordanidis, Jacques Plévert, Michael Stevens, Larry Beck, John C. H. Spence, Michael O'Keeffe, Omar M. Yaghi (2002): "One-Step Synthesis and Structure of an Oligo(spiro-orthocarbonate)". Journal of the American Chemical Society, volume 124, issue 18, pages 4942–4943. {{#invoke:doi|main}}</ref>
Fire retardantsEdit
Pentaerythritol is used as a fire retardant, such as in plastics and intumescent paints and coatings. It releases water upon heating and leaves a deposit of thermally insulating char.<ref>Template:Ullmann</ref>