Allyl alcohol

Allyl alcohol or 2-propen-1-ol is an organic compound with the formula CH2=CHCH2OH. It is a water soluble, colourless liquid with an ethanol like odour at low concentrations and a mustard-like pungent odour at higher concentration. Allyl alcohol is used as a pesticide and as a raw material for the production of many chemical compounds.

Allyl alcohol can be obtained by many methods: hydrolysis of allyl chloride, by oxidation of propylene oxide with potassium alum at high temperature, dehydrogenation of propanol, and the by reaction of glycerol and formic acid. Allyl alcohol is the smallest representative of the allylic alcohols. Allyl alcohols in general can be prepared by allylic oxidation of allyl compounds by for instance selenium dioxide.

Safety
The compound is toxic and flammable, see MSDS.