O

Octyldodecanol

1 Nonproprietary Names Table I: Pharmacopeial specifications for octyldodecanol.

BP: Octyldodecanol
Test PhEur 6.0 USP32–NF27
PhEur: Octyldodecanol
USP-NF: Octyldodecanol Identification þ þ
Characters þ —
Acidity or alkalinity þ —
Relative density 0.840 —
2 Synonyms Refractive index 1.455 —
Optical rotation 0.108 to þ108 —
Eutanol G PH; isoarachidyl alcohol; Jarcol 1-20; Jeecol ODD; Hydroxyl value 175–190 175–190
octildodecanol; octyldodecanolum; 2-octyldodecyl alcohol; 2-octyl- Iodine value 48 48
1-dodecanol; 2-octyldodecanol; Standamul G. Saponification value 45 45
Acid value — 40.5
Peroxide value 45.0 —
Heavy metals 410 ppm —
3 Chemical Name and CAS Registry Number Water 40.5% —
Sulfated ash 40.1% —
Octyldodecanol [5333-42-6] Assay >90.0% >90.0%

4 Empirical Formula and Molecular Weight

10 Typical Properties
C20H42O 298.62
Flash point 1808C2008C
Melting point <208C
Refractive index n20
D = 1.45–1.46
5 Structural Formula Solubility Miscible with ethanol (95%); practically insoluble in
water.
Specific gravity 0.83–0.85 at 208C
Viscosity (dynamic) 58–64 mPa s (58–64 cP) at 208C

11 Stability and Storage Conditions

O
The bulk material should be stored in a well-closed container in a
cool, dry place, protected from light. In the original unopened
container, octyldodecanol can be stored for 2 years protected from
6 Functional Category
moisture at below 308C.
Emollient; emulsifying agent; lubricant; solvent; thickening agent.

7 Applications in Pharmaceutical Formulation or
Technology
Octyldodecanol is widely used in cosmetics and pharmaceutical
applications as an emulsifying and opacifying agent. It is primarily
used in topical applications because of its lubricating and emollient
properties.
Octyldodecanol has been used in the preparation of oil/water
microemulsions investigated as the vehicle for the dermal admin-
istration of drugs having no or low skin penetration.(1) Octyldo-
decanol has also been evaluated as a solvent for naproxen when
applied topically.(2) Studies of estimated permeability coefficient
suggest that octyldodecanol could be a potential dermal permeation
enhancer.(3)
8 Description
Octyldodecanol occurs as a clear, colorless, or yellowish, oily liquid.
9 Pharmacopeial Specifications
See Table I. See also Section 18.
12 Incompatibilities
Octyldodecanol is generally compatible with most materials
encountered in cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations.
13 Method of Manufacture
Octyldodecanol is produced by the condensation of two molecules
of decyl alcohol. It also occurs naturally in small quantities in
plants.
14 Safety
Octyldodecanol is widely used in cosmetics and topical pharma-
ceutical formulations, and is generally regarded as nontoxic and
nonirritant at the levels employed as an excipient.
In acute oral toxicity studies in rats fed 5 g/kg of undiluted
octyldodecanol, no deaths were observed.(4) In an acute dermal
toxicity study, intact and abraded skin sites of guinea pigs were
treated with 3 g/kg of undiluted octyldodecanol under occlusive
patches; no deaths occurred and no gross skin lesions were
observed.(4) Octyldodecanol caused either no ocular irritation or
minimal, transient irritation in the eyes of rabbits.(4) However, some
sources describe undiluted octyldodecanol as an eye and severe skin
irritant.

46 5
 4 66 Oleic Acid

15 Handling Precautions 19 Specific References

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and
quantity of material handled. When heated to decomposition,
octyldodecanol emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.
16 Regulatory Status
Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database (topical,
transdermal, and vaginal preparations). Included in nonparenteral
medicines licensed in the UK. Included in the Canadian List of
Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients.
1 Shukla A et al. Investigation of pharmaceutical oil/water microemul-
sions by small-angle scattering. Pharm Res 2002; 19(6): 881–886.
2 Contreras Claramonte MD et al. An application of regular solution
theory in the study of the solubility of naproxen in some solvents used in
topical preparations. Int J Pharm 1993; 94: 23–30.
3 Mbah CJ. Studies on the lipophilicity of vehicles (or covehicles) and
botanical oils used in cosmetic products. Pharmazie 2007; 62(5): 351–
353.
4 Elder RL. Final report on the safety assessment of stearyl alcohol, oleyl
alcohol and octyl dodecanol. J Am Coll Toxicol 1985; 4: 1–29.
5 Japan Pharmaceutical Excipients Council. Japanese Pharmaceutical
Excipients 2004. Tokyo: Yakuji Nippo, 2004; 583–585.

20 General References
17 Related Substances Allen LV. Featured excipient: oligeanous vehicles. Int J Pharm Compound
— 2000; 4(6): 470–473484–485.
Filippi U et al. Proposal for the pharmacopeia; octyl dodecanol. Bell Clin
Form 1982; 121: 425–427.
18 Comments
21 Author
A specification for octyldodecanol is included in Japanese
Pharmaceutical Excipients (JPE).(5) RT Guest.
The EINECS number for octyldodecanol is 226-242-9. The
PubChem Compound ID (CID) for octyldodecanol includes 21414 22 Date of Revision
and 11983377. 12 February 2009.

Oleic Acid
O
1 Nonproprietary Names enhancer in transdermal formulations,(1–14) to improve the bioa-
BP: Oleic Acid vailability of poorly water-soluble drugs in tablet formulations,(15)
PhEur: Oleic Acid and as part of a vehicle in soft gelatin capsules, in topical
microemulsion formulations,(16–19) in oral self-emulsifying drug
USP-NF: Oleic Acid
delivery systems,(20,21) in oral mucoadhesive patches,(22) and in a
metered dose inhaler.(23) Oleic acid was shown to be an important
2 Synonyms factor in the hypoglycemic effect produced by multiple emulsions
Acidum oleicum; Crodolene; Crossential 094; elaic acid; Emersol; containing insulin intended for intestinal delivery of insulin.(24)
Glycon; Groco; Hy-Phi; Industrene; Metaupon; Neo-Fat; cis-9- The phase behavior of sonicated dispersions of oleic acid has
octadecenoic acid; 9,10-octadecenoic acid; oleinic acid; Priolene. been described,(25) and mechanisms for the topical penetration-
enhancing actions of oleic acid have been presented.(26)
3 Chemical Name and CAS Registry Number Oleic acid has been reported to act as an ileal ‘brake’ that slows
(Z)-9-Octadecenoic acid [112-80-1] down the transit of luminal contents through the distal portion of
the small bowel.(27)
4 Empirical Formula and Molecular Weight Oleic acid labeled with 131I and 3H is used in medical imaging.
C18H34O2 282.47

5 Structural Formula
8 Description
A yellowish to pale brown, oily liquid with a characteristic lard-like
odor and taste.
Oleic acid consists chiefly of (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid together
6 Functional Category with varying amounts of saturated and other unsaturated acids. It
may contain a suitable antioxidant.
Emulsifying agent; skin penetrant.

7 Applications in Pharmaceutical Formulation or

Technology
Oleic acid is used as an emulsifying agent in foods and topical 9 Pharmacopeial Specifications
pharmaceutical formulations. It has also been used as a penetration See Table I.