INDEX Cinnamic ester

Ethyl Cinnamate.—The cinnamic ester of ethyl alcohol is a natural constituent of a few essential oils, including camphor oil and storax. It is formed synthetically by condensing cinnamic acid and ethyl alcohol by dry hydrochloric acid gas. It has a soft and sweet odour, and is particularly suitable for blending in soap perfumes. It is an oil at ordinary temperatures, melting at 12°, and boiling at 271°. Its specific gravity is 1 0546, and its refractive index 1 5590. 

Balsam of Peru is frequently adulterated as it is an expensive product, and if possible the source of supply should be ascertained as a reliable criterion of purity. Bennett summarised the analysis of balsam of Peru and in his opinion the best guide to value is the content of cinnamein (which name was originally used for benzyl cinnamate but is now employed for esters soluble in ether but insoluble in caustic soda and might better be termed balsamic esters ). This may, however, be deliberately increased by the addition of benzoic esters, benzyl benzoate being commonly used. The extreme limits of cinnamein for genuine balsam lie between 51 and 66 per cent. The refractive index of the balsam at 25° was... 

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