1-Tetradecanol

1-Tetradecanol, or commonly myristyl alcohol, is a straight-chain saturated fatty alcohol, with the molecular formula CH₃₁₂CH₂OH. It is a white waxy solid that is practically insoluble in water, soluble in diethyl ether, and slightly soluble in ethanol.

Production

1-Tetradecanol may be prepared by the hydrogenation of myristic acid ; myristic acid itself can be found in nutmeg but is also present in palm kernel oil and coconut oil and it is from these that the majority of 1-tetradecanol is produced. It may also be produced from petrochemical feedstocks via either the Ziegler process.

As with other fatty alcohols, 1-tetradecanol is used as an ingredient in cosmetics such as cold creams for its emollient properties. It is also used as an intermediate in the chemical synthesis of other products such as surfactants.

Like other fatty alcohols, myristyl alcohol has very low acute toxicity, with LD50 >5000 mg/kg.