Cinnamyl alcohol or styron[2] is an organic compound that is found in esterified form in storax, Balsam of Peru, and cinnamon leaves. It forms a white crystalline solid when pure, or a yellow oil when even slightly impure. It can be produced by the hydrolysis of storax.
Cinnamyl alcohol occurs naturally only in small quantities, so its industrial demand is usually fulfilled by chemical synthesis starting from cinnamaldehyde.[3]
Properties
The compound is a solid at room temperature, forming colorless crystals that melt upon gentle heating. As is typical of most higher-molecular weight alcohols, it is sparingly soluble in water at room temperature, but highly soluble in most common organic solvents.
Uses
Cinnamyl alcohol has a distinctive odor described as "sweet, balsam, hyacinth, spicy, green, powdery, cinnamic" and is used in perfumery[4] and as a deodorant.
Cinnamyl alcohol is the starting material used in the synthesis of reboxetine.[5]
There is basic medical research investigating the neuroprotective properties of cinnamyl alcohol in terms of the following with respect to epilepsy:[6]
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