3-Methylbutanoic acid

3-Methylbutanoic acid
Skeletal formula of 3-methylbutanoic acid
Ball-and-stick model of 3-methylbutanoic acid
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
3-Methylbutanoic acid
Other names
Delphinic acid
3-Methylbutyric acid
Isopentanoic acid
Isovaleric acid
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.007.251 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 207-975-3
KEGG
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C5H10O2/c1-4(2)3-5(6)7/h4H,3H2,1-2H3,(H,6,7) checkY
    Key: GWYFCOCPABKNJV-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C5H10O2/c1-4(2)3-5(6)7/h4H,3H2,1-2H3,(H,6,7)
    Key: GWYFCOCPABKNJV-UHFFFAOYAV
  • O=C(O)CC(C)C
Properties
C5H10O2
Molar mass 102.13 g/mol
Density 0.925 g/cm3
Melting point −29 °C (−20 °F; 244 K)
Boiling point 176.5 °C (349.7 °F; 449.6 K)
log P 1.16
Acidity (pKa) 4.8 (H2O)
-67.7·10−6 cm3/mol
Related compounds
butyric acid
β-hydroxybutyric acid
β-hydroxy β-methylbutyric acid
Related compounds
 Valeric acid
Hazards
GHS labelling:[1]
GHS05: Corrosive
Danger
H314
P280, P301+P330+P331, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340+P310, P305+P351+P338, P363
Flash point 80 °C (176 °F; 353 K)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

3-Methylbutanoic acid, also known as β-methylbutyric acid or more commonly isovaleric acid, is a branched-chain alkyl carboxylic acid with the chemical formula (CH3)2CHCH2CO2H. It is classified as a short-chain fatty acid. Like other low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids, it has an unpleasant odor. The compound occurs naturally and can be found in many foods, such as cheese, soy milk, and apple juice.

  1. ^ Sigma-Aldrich. "Isovaleric acid". Retrieved 2020-09-29.