Molecular structure: C₁₀H₁₀O₂
Relative molecular weight:162.18
Physical and chemical properties: Appearance:achromatous to pale yellow oil- stated liquid Melting point:11℃ boiling point:223-236℃ freezing point:10-12℃ Relative density:1.092-1.101 refractive inds:1.5360-1.5385
Solubility: Not resolvable in water,resolvable in 90% ethanol with proportion of 1:3 resolvable in ethanol,aether,chloroform and most of organic liquors.
Sensual properties:scent of sassafras tree
Producing method: Distilled from essence oil richly containing safrole. there is also an uneconomical synthesizing method with catechins methylcatechol as the raw material and through its chemical reaction with ally chloride,the substance can be produced. Or it can be achieved by chemical reaction between 4-allyl catechins and diiodomethane.
Natural existence: The safrole naturally exists in the root oil of sassafras officinale tree. It is also contained in the following essence oils, nutmeg oil, and cinnamon leaf oil etc…
In the bark oil ofnemuaron humboldtii tree,content of safrole reaches as high as 99% and above.content of safrole 93% and above in brazil safrole oil. 80% and above in the America safrole oil.
Supervision: Safrole is not allowed to be used in foodstuff in the United States.