Banana oil commonly refers to a solution of isoamyl acetate in ethanol that is used as an artificial flavor. It is also used as a solvent for some varnishes and nitrocellulose lacquers.
Synonym: Isoamyl acetate, isopentyl acetate, isopentyl ethanoate, pear essence, 3-methylbutyl acetate, 3-methylbutyl ethanoate, 3-methylbut-1-yl ethanoate.
An organic compound that is the ester formed from isoamyl alcohol and acetic acid. It's a colorless liquid that is only slightly soluble in water, but very soluble in most organic solvents.
Banana oil occurs naturally in the banana plant and it is also produced synthetically.
Banana oil acetate is released by a honey bee's sting apparatus where it serves as a pheromone beacon to attract other bees and provoke them to sting
Applications
Banana oil is used to confer banana flavor in foods. Banana oil commonly refers to a solution of isoamyl acetate in ethanol that is used as an artificial flavor.It is also used as a solvent for some varnishes and nitrocellulose lacquers. As a solvent and carrier for materials such as nitrocellulose, it was extensively used in the aircraft industry for stiffening and wind-proofing fabric flying surfaces, where it and its derivatives were generally known as 'aircraft dope'. Now that most aircraft are all-metal, such use is now mostly limited to historically accurate reproductions and scale models.
Because of its intense, pleasant odor and its low toxicity, isoamyl acetate is used to test the effectiveness of respirators or gas masks. It is also used in thermometers.