Isopropyl myristate (IPM) is the
ester
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 distin ...
of
isopropyl alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol (IUPAC name propan-2-ol and also called isopropanol or 2-propanol) is a colorless, flammable, organic compound with a pungent alcoholic odor.
Isopropyl alcohol, an organic polar molecule, is miscible in water, ethanol, an ...
and
myristic acid.
Uses
Isopropyl myristate is a polar
emollient and is used in cosmetic and topical pharmaceutical preparations where skin absorption is desired. It is also used as a treatment for
head lice. It is also in flea and tick killing products for pets.
It is used to remove bacteria from the oral cavity as the
non-aqueous component of the two-phase
mouthwash product "
Dentyl pH".
Isopropyl myristate is also used as a solvent in perfume materials, and in the removal process of
prosthetic make-up.
Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis (; ) is any chemical reaction in which a molecule of water breaks one or more chemical bonds. The term is used broadly for substitution reaction, substitution, elimination reaction, elimination, and solvation reactions in which water ...
of the ester from isopropyl myristate can liberate the acid and the alcohol. The acid is theorized to be responsible for decreasing of the pH value of formulations.
[Engelbrecht, T.; Demé, B.; Dobner, B. and Neubert, R. (2012). Study of the influence of the penetration enhancer isopropyl myristate on the nanostructure of stratum corneum lipid model membranes using neutron diffraction and deuterium labelling. Skin Pharmacol Physiol, 25:200-7]
References
External links
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{{Cosmetics
Carboxylate esters
Cosmetics chemicals
Isopropyl esters