2,4-Hexadienyl isobutyrate (CAS 16491-24-0) — Sweet Top to middle Note Fragrance Ingredient

Sweet · Citrus

2,4-Hexadienyl isobutyrate

CAS 16491-24-0

Origin
synthetic
Note
Top to middle
IFRA
Generally safe
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is 2,4-Hexadienyl isobutyrate?

2,4-Hexadienyl isobutyrate is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used to add fruity, tropical notes to perfumes and scented products. It’s commonly found in body sprays, air fresheners, and tropical-themed fragrances. This ester compound matters because it provides a cost-effective way to create fresh, juicy fruit accords without using natural extracts, making fragrances more affordable and consistent in quality.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
No major restrictions in current use
Not listed as a known allergen
CAS
16491-24-0
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Sweet · Citrus
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does 2,4-Hexadienyl isobutyrate Smell Like?

2,4-Hexadienyl isobutyrate bursts with a lively, juicy fruit character reminiscent of ripe pineapple and strawberry jam. The opening is bright and slightly tart, like the first bite of a just-ripe mango, softening into a sweeter, creamier heart that suggests coconut milk and passionfruit. As it dries down, it maintains a pleasant fruity persistence without becoming cloying, leaving a clean, almost citrusy finish that makes it useful in fresh compositions. The overall effect is tropical yet balanced – more sophisticated than simple fruit notes but still immediately recognizable as a summer fragrance component.

Scent Profile
Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Hexa-2,4-dienyl isobutyrate

SMILES: CC=CC=CCOC(=O)C(C)C

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

2,4-Hexadienyl isobutyrate is an ester formed from isobutyric acid and 2,4-hexadienol. As a synthetic molecule, it’s typically produced through acid-catalyzed esterification under controlled conditions. The conjugated diene system in the hexadienyl portion contributes to its reactivity and fruity character. Being wholly synthetic, it doesn’t occur in nature but was designed to mimic tropical fruit esters while offering greater stability and lower production costs than natural alternatives.

Physical & Chemical Properties

AppearanceColorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor StrengthMedium to strong

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top to middle
Volatility
Medium (2-4 hours)
Blending
Good with other esters
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance0.5-2%Up to 5%Fruit accord booster
Body Care0.1-1%Up to 3%Shower gel freshness
Home Fragrance1-3%Up to 7%Tropical air fresheners

Classic Accords

Tip: Use in small doses to brighten citrus top notes or in larger amounts for full tropical effects.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Ethyl-2-methylbutyrate CAS 7452-79-1

More apple-like fruit character with similar volatility, useful when a less tropical profile is desired.

2
Allyl hexanoate CAS 123-68-2

Stronger pineapple note with better diffusion, though slightly more aggressive in character.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.

IFRA Status

No current IFRA restrictions. Not listed in any amendment as of 2023.

RIFM Assessment

Not currently assessed by RIFM but considered low priority due to low volume of use.

Sustainability

As a fully synthetic material, 2,4-Hexadienyl isobutyrate has minimal environmental impact in production compared to natural extracts. Its synthesis from petrochemical feedstocks raises typical sustainability concerns of non-renewable sourcing, but its potency means very small quantities are needed in formulations. No known ecological toxicity issues at current usage levels.

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References

    Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.

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    Ingredient Data Sheet

    CAS 16491-24-0

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight168.23 g/mol🔬 PubChem
    LogP (Octanol-Water)2.7🔬 PubChem
    Boiling Point218 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    Vapor Pressure0.2239 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point85.5 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    Involatility Index0.0186💻 Calculated
    log Kp (skin permeability)-1.809💻 Calculated
    SMILESCC=CC=CCOC(=O)C(C)C🔬 PubChem

    Volatility & Performance

    Fragrance NoteHeart💻 Calculated
    Volatility ClassSlow💻 Calculated
    Persistence Score1.1 / 5💻 Calculated

    Odor & Flavor

    Functional Groupsesteretheralkene💻 RDKit
    Data Sources & Attribution
    Physical data: PubChem (NIH/NLM), U.S. EPA CompTox Dashboard, EPA OPERA models, RDKit. Odor & flavor: Arctander (Perfume & Flavor Chemicals), Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Leffingwell. Thresholds: van Gemert (Compilations of Odour Threshold Values). Regulatory: IFRA Standards 51st, FEMA GRAS. Trade names: Surburg (Common Fragrance & Flavor Materials). All data compiled and cross-referenced for perfumertools.com.

    Physicochemical Properties

    DTXSID: DTXSID4047414

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight 168.236 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
    Density 0.904 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
    Boiling Point 211.49 °C📊 OPERA
    Melting Point -59.454 °C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point 78.59 °C📊 OPERA
    Refractive Index 1.456 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
    Molar Volume 184.691 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

    Partition & Solubility

    LogP (Octanol-Water) 3.023 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 5.5) 3.023 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 7.4) 3.023 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 4.83 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    Water Solubility 0.007 mol/L📊 OPERA
    Henry's Law Constant 0.001 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

    Transport Properties

    Vapor Pressure 0.111 mmHg📊 OPERA
    Viscosity 1.348 cP📊 OPERA
    Surface Tension 26.608 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
    Thermal Conductivity 133.884 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

    Molecular Descriptors

    Topological Polar Surface Area 26.3 Ų💻 Computed
    H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
    H-Bond Acceptors 2 count💻 Computed
    Rotatable Bonds 4 count💻 Computed
    Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
    Molar Refractivity 50.227 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
    Polarizability 19.911 Å^3📊 OPERA

    Data Sources:

    🔬 EPA Experimental data from U.S. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard & CTX APIs. 📊 OPERA Predicted using EPA's OPERA QSAR models. 💻 Computed Calculated from SMILES using RDKit.

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