2-Methoxy-3-(1-methylpropyl)pyrazine (CAS 24168-70-5) — Green Top-Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient

Green · Spicy

2-Methoxy-3-(1-methylpropyl)pyrazine

CAS 24168-70-5

Origin
synthetic
Note
Top-Middle
IFRA
Use with awareness
Data as of: Apr 2026

What Is 2-Methoxy-3-(1-methylpropyl)pyrazine?

2-Methoxy-3-(1-methylpropyl)pyrazine is a synthetic aroma chemical that adds a green, bell pepper-like nuance to fragrances. You’ll encounter it in fresh, vegetal perfumes and some gourmand scents. This pyrazine compound matters because it provides an ultra-realistic green pepper note at extremely low concentrations, allowing perfumers to create photorealistic vegetable garden accords or add a crisp edge to fruity compositions.

Safety Profile

USE WITH AWARENESS
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
IFRA compliant at typical usage levels
Powerful – requires precise dosing
CAS
24168-70-5
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Green · Spicy
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does 2-Methoxy-3-(1-methylpropyl)pyrazine Smell Like?

This pyrazine explodes with an intensely green, sappy bell pepper aroma that’s almost shockingly realistic. The top note has a sharp vegetal punch reminiscent of freshly cut green peppers, with a subtle earthy undertone. As it evolves, the heart reveals a more refined green character – think dewy tomato leaves and young vine shoots. The dry-down is surprisingly clean, leaving just a whisper of peppery warmth. At high concentrations it can overwhelm, but when properly diluted, it adds remarkable freshness and verisimilitude to green fragrances.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Used to recreate the humid vegetal freshness after rainfall, combining with ginger and coriander for an edible green effect.

Green Irish Tweed(Creed, 1985)

Provides the crisp green top note that complements the violet leaf, giving that famous ‘lawn clippings’ freshness.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

3-sec-Butyl-2-methoxypyrazine

SMILES: CCC(C)C1=NC=CN=C1OC

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

2-Methoxy-3-(1-methylpropyl)pyrazine belongs to the alkylmethoxypyrazine class, powerful aroma compounds found naturally in bell peppers and some green vegetables. Synthetic production typically involves condensation reactions of appropriate diketones with hydrazine derivatives, followed by methylation. The branched isobutyl side chain contributes to its high odor potency and diffusion. Like most pyrazines, it’s stable across a wide pH range but can degrade under prolonged UV exposure.

Physical & Chemical Properties

AppearanceColorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor ThresholdExtremely low (ppb range)

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top-Middle
Volatility
Medium (2-4 hours)
Blending
Good with citrus, problematic with florals
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance0.001-0.01%Up to 0.05%Extremely powerful – measure carefully
Functional Fragrance0.0005-0.005%Up to 0.01%Used in trace amounts for freshness

Classic Accords

Tip: Always pre-dilute to 1% or lower before incorporating – undiluted material can dominate a formula.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
3-Isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine CAS 24683-00-9

More intense bell pepper character, used when maximum green impact is desired. Even more powerful – handle with care.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

No IFRA restrictions currently apply to this material (as of Amendment 51).

GHS Classification

H315 Skin irritation H319 Eye irritation H335 May cause respiratory irritation

RIFM Assessment

RIFM has evaluated similar pyrazines but no specific assessment found for this isomer. Assume similar precautions apply.

Sustainability

As a synthetic material, this pyrazine has minimal environmental impact in production. It’s produced in closed systems with high atom economy. Its extreme potency means very small quantities are needed, reducing transportation impacts compared to natural alternatives like green pepper CO2 extracts.

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References

  1. Maga, J.A. (1982). Pyrazines in Foods: An Update. CRC Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. DOI:10.1080/10408398209527346

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

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Physicochemical Properties

DTXSID: DTXSID0047082

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 166.224 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.99 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX
Boiling Point 211.201 °C📊 OPERA
Melting Point 58.73 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 85.368 °C📊 OPERA
Refractive Index 1.488 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 166.462 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 2.12 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) 2.119 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 2.12 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 5.56 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.032 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.049 mmHg📊 OPERA
Viscosity 5.484 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 35.044 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 131.011 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA

Molecular Descriptors

Topological Polar Surface Area 35.01 Ų💻 Computed
H-Bond Donors 0 count💻 Computed
H-Bond Acceptors 3 count💻 Computed
Rotatable Bonds 3 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 1 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 47.932 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 19.002 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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