Di(2-propylheptyl) phthalate (also known as bis(2-propylheptyl) benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate, di(propylheptyl) orthophthalate, or DPHP) is an

organic compound In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon- hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. Th ...

with the formula C₂₈H₄₆O₄. It is a

phthalate Phthalates (, ), or phthalate esters, are esters of phthalic acid. They are mainly used as plasticizers, i.e., substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity. They are used primarily to soften ...

and is the diester of

phthalic acid Phthalic acid is an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, with formula C6H4(CO2H)2. Although phthalic acid is of modest commercial importance, the closely related derivative phthalic anhydride is a commodity chemical produced on a large scale. Phthalic ac ...

and the 10-carbon branched-chain alcohol

2-propylheptanol 2-Propylheptanol (2PH) is a colourless waxy or oily solid. Production 2-Propylheptanol is an oxo alcohol, meaning that it is produced from the hydroformylation ("oxo synthesis") of C4 alkenes followed by hydrogenation of the resulting aldehyde. T ...

. This colorless, viscous liquid is used for softening PVC plastics and is a general purpose PVC

plasticizer A plasticizer ( UK: plasticiser) is a substance that is added to a material to make it softer and more flexible, to increase its plasticity, to decrease its viscosity, and/or to decrease friction during its handling in manufacture. Plasticiz ...

. It possesses very good plasticizing properties and may be used as a direct replacement for DEHP and DINP in many applications.

References

Phthalate esters {{ester-stub