Bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate or DEHA or DOA is an

organic compound Some chemical authorities define an organic compound as a chemical compound that contains a carbon–hydrogen or carbon–carbon bond; others consider an organic compound to be any chemical compound that contains carbon. For example, carbon-co ...

with the formula (CH₂CH₂CO₂C₈H₁₇)₂. It is the

diester In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an acid (either organic or inorganic) in which the hydrogen atom (H) of at least one acidic hydroxyl group () of that acid is replaced by an organyl group (R). These compounds contain a distinc ...

2-ethylhexanol 2-Ethylhexanol (abbreviated 2-EH) is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is a branched, eight-carbon chiral alcohol. It is a colorless liquid that is poorly soluble in water but soluble in most organic solvents. It is produced on a l ...

and

adipic acid Adipic acid or hexanedioic acid is the organic compound with the formula C6H10O4. It a white crystalline powder at standard temperature and pressure. From an industrial perspective, it is the most important dicarboxylic acid at about 2.5 billion ...

. It is a colorless

oil An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is composed primarily of hydrocarbons and is hydrophobic (does not mix with water) and lipophilic (mixes with other oils). Oils are usually flammable and surface active. Most oils are unsaturate ...

y liquid. DEHA is sometimes called "

dioctyl adipate Dioctyl adipate (DOA) is an organic compound with the formula (CH2CH2CO2C8H17)2. It is a colorless oily liquid . As well as related diesters derived from 2-ethylhexanol, decanol, isodecanol, etc., it is used as a plasticizer A plasticizer ...

", incorrectly. Another name is di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate. The abbreviation DOA has been used for both bis(-2-ethylhexyl)-adipate and dioctyl adipate

Use

As well as related

s derived from

octanol Octanols are alcohols with the formula C8H17OH. A simple and important member is 1-octanol, with an unbranched chain of carbons. Other commercially important octanols are 2-octanol and 2-ethylhexanol. Some octanols occur naturally in the form o ...

decanol 1-Decanol is a straight chain fatty alcohol with ten carbon atoms and the molecular formula C10H21OH. It is a colorless to light yellow viscous liquid that is insoluble in water and has an aromatic odor. The interfacial tension against water at 20 ...

, isodecanol, etc., it is used as a

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. Plasticizer ...

. DEHA is used as a

hydraulic fluid A hydraulic fluid or hydraulic liquid is the medium by which power is transferred in hydraulic machinery. Common hydraulic fluids are based on mineral oil or water. Examples of equipment that might use hydraulic fluids are excavators and backho ...

, and a component of aircraft

lubricant A lubricant (sometimes shortened to lube) is a substance that helps to reduce friction between surfaces in mutual contact, which ultimately reduces the heat generated when the surfaces move. It may also have the function of transmitting forces, ...

s. It is sometimes also used as an ingredient in

PVC Polyvinyl chloride (alternatively: poly(vinyl chloride), colloquial: vinyl or polyvinyl; abbreviated: PVC) is the world's third-most widely produced synthetic polymer of plastic (after polyethylene and polypropylene). About 40 million tons o ...

-based

plastic wrap Plastic wrap, cling film, Saran wrap, cling wrap, Glad wrap or food wrap is a thin plastic film typically used for sealing food items in containers to keep them fresh over a longer period of time. Plastic wrap, typically sold on rolls in boxe ...

Toxicity

DEHA has very low toxicity. The LD₅₀ is estimated at 900 mg/kg (rat, i.v.). According to the

International Agency for Research on Cancer The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC; ) is an intergovernmental agency forming part of the World Health Organization of the United Nations. Its role is to conduct and coordinate research into the causes of cancer. It also cance ...

(IARC), it is "not classifiable as to its

carcinogenicity A carcinogen () is any agent that promotes the development of cancer. Carcinogens can include synthetic chemicals, naturally occurring substances, physical agents such as ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, and Biological agent, biologic agent ...

to humans (Group 3)."

References

{{HealthIssuesOfPlastics Adipate esters Plasticizers Ester solvents 2-Ethylhexyl esters