Linalyl acetate, the most valuable and characteristic constituent of the oils of bergamot and lavender, is rather widely distributed. In addition to the above mentioned two oils, it has been found in the oils of Canada snakeroot (?), ylang-ylang (?), sassafras leaves, the bark of Cinnamomum pedatinervium, petitgrain, lemon, neroli, the Italian limette, jasmine, muscatelle sage(?), the oil of the leaves of Mentha citrata and gardenia.

1) Wegener, Private communication by Friedlander, Liebig's Annalen 221 (1883), 75.

2) Anschutz and Kinnicutt, Berl. Berichte 11 (1878), 1220.

3) Kopp, Liebig's Annalen 95 (1855), 320.

4) Perkin, Journ. chem. Soc. 69 (1896), 1228.

5) According to Pharm. Zentralh. 43 (1902), 637.

Since both linalool and linalyl acetate readily undergo change and decomposition, the artificial preparation of the ester is not readily accomplished. Thus the common method of acetylation yields but poor results since the linalool is partly decomposed, partly rearranged to terpineol, geraniol and nerol. According to Tiemann 1) a pure linalyl acetate can be obtained by the interaction between sodium linalool and acetic acid anhydride.

Linalyl acetate is a colorless liquid with a pleasant odor reminding of bergamot. In accordance with the linalool employed, it deviates the ray of polarized light ether to the right or left. In connection with a linalyl acetate prepared according to Tiemann's method, Hesse and Zeitschel-) observed the following constants:

B. p. 96,5 to 97° (10 mm.), 115 to 116° (25 mm.), about 220° with decomposition (762 mm.); d15o 0,913; [a]D - 6° 35'; ester content 97,6 p. c.

Under the name of bergamiol, Schimmel & Co. introduce into the market a product that possesses approximately the following properties: d15o0,90 to 0,91; nD20o 1,451 to 1,454; soluble in 10 to 15 vol. of 60 p. c. and in 3 to 5 vol. of 70 p. c. alcohol.