He measured its boiling point at 96°C, correctly identified its empirical formula, studied some of its chemical properties and gave it two names: propionic alcohol and hydrate of trityl.

[5][6] After several unsuccessful attempts, it was synthesized independently and by two different routes by Eduard Linnemann and Carl Schorlemmer in 1868.

Propionaldehyde is produced via the oxo process by hydroformylation of ethylene using carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst such as cobalt octacarbonyl or a rhodium complex.

1-Propanol is thought to be similar to ethanol in its effects on the human body, but 2 to 4 times more potent according to a study conducted on rabbits.

Effects include alcoholic intoxication and high anion gap metabolic acidosis.