Ethyl butyrate

Ethyl butyrate, also known as ethyl butanoate, or butyric ether, is an ester with the chemical formula CH3CH2CH2COOCH2CH3. It is soluble in propylene glycol, paraffin oil, and kerosene. It has a fruity odor, similar to pineapple, and is a key ingredient used as a flavor enhancer in processed orange juices. It also occurs naturally in many fruits, albeit at lower concentrations.

Uses
It is commonly used as artificial flavoring resembling orange juice and is hence used in nearly all orange juices sold in the US, including those sold as "fresh" or “concentrated". It is also used in alcoholic beverages (e.g. martinis, daiquiris etc.), as a solvent in perfumery products, and as a plasticizer for cellulose.

Ethyl butyrate is one of the most common chemicals used in flavors and fragrances. It can be used in a variety of flavors: orange (most common), cherry, pineapple, mango, guava, bubblegum, peach, apricot, fig, and plum. Ethyl butyrate is synthesised in Jamaican rum upon the estrification of butyric acid from muck and ethanol during the distillation process. This gives Jamaican rum its pleasant flavour. In industrial use, it is also one of the cheapest chemicals, which only adds to its popularity.

Production
It can be synthesized by reacting ethanol and butyric acid. This is a condensation reaction, meaning water is produced in the reaction as a byproduct. Ethyl butyrate from natural sources can be distinguished from synthetic ethyl butyrate by Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis (SIRA).