CAS 1085-12-7: n-Heptyl 4-hydroxybenzoate

n-Heptyl 4-hydroxybenzoate is a preservative and antimicrobial agent that is used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food. It is primarily used to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi. The mechanism by which heptyl 4-hydroxybenzoate inhibits the growth of microorganisms is not well understood. It has been shown to be an effective inhibitor of Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, but not against Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli. Heptyl 4-hydroxybenzoate has been shown to have no effect on the growth of probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus. The chemical structure of n-heptyl 4-hydroxybenzoate includes a glycol ether moiety and two parabens that are linked by hydrogen bonds. These bonds can be broken by enzymes found in rat liver microsomes, leading to the release of n-

n-Heptyl 4-hydroxybenzoate is used for inhibiting microbiological spoilage, used as preservatives, skin care, hair care. This Thermo Scientific Chemicals brand product was originally part of the Alfa Aesar product portfolio. Some documentation and label information may refer to the legacy brand. The original Alfa Aesar product / item code or SKU reference has not changed as a part of the brand transition to Thermo Scientific Chemicals.

Applications n-Heptyl 4-Hydroxybenzoate is used as a reagent in the synthesis of sulfonylbenzoic acid esters as potential inhibitors of oestrone sulphatase with antitumor activities. References Owen, C., et al.: J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 55, 85 (2002)