4,7-Dimethyloct-6-en-3-one (CAS 2550-11-0) — Citrus Top to Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
4,7-Dimethyloct-6-en-3-one
CAS 2550-11-0
What Is 4,7-Dimethyloct-6-en-3-one?
4,7-Dimethyloct-6-en-3-one is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used to add fresh, citrusy, and slightly woody notes to perfumes and scented products. You’ll encounter it in modern citrus colognes and fresh floral fragrances. This molecule matters because it helps create bright, uplifting top notes that last longer than natural citrus oils, while avoiding phototoxicity concerns associated with some natural citrus compounds.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does 4,7-Dimethyloct-6-en-3-one Smell Like?
Opens with a burst of crisp grapefruit peel and lemon zest, quickly revealing a juicy mandarin heart with surprising depth. As it evolves, the citrus sharpness softens into a clean woody-amber drydown reminiscent of freshly split cedar. The overall effect is like peeling citrus fruits in a sunlit cedar closet – bright yet substantial, with excellent diffusion that makes it perfect for modern fresh compositions.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used here to amplify the citrus opening while providing bridge notes to the woody base. Creates the signature ‘sun-drenched Mediterranean’ effect by blending citrus realism with lasting power.
Modern reformulations employ this to reinforce the citrus-herbal theme while meeting IFRA restrictions on older citrus materials. Provides brightness without compromising the classic structure.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCC(=O)C(C)CC=C(C)C
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
A branched-chain unsaturated ketone belonging to the methylheptenone family. Synthesized via aldol condensation of methylheptenone with isobutyraldehyde, followed by selective hydrogenation. The specific branching pattern creates unique steric hindrance that slows degradation, explaining its superior longevity compared to linear citrus molecules. The double bond at position 6 introduces subtle fruity nuances absent in saturated analogs.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Boiling Point | Approx. 210-215 °C |
|---|---|
| Density | ~0.85 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | 1.445-1.455 |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 1-3% | Up to 5% | Citrus-modifying agent |
| Functional Fragrance | 0.5-1.5% | Up to 2% | Freshness booster |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use with ionones to create photostable citrus-floral effects that won’t degrade in sunlight.
Alternatives & Comparisons
When more natural grapefruit character is desired, though less stable. Higher cost limits use to premium applications.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not restricted under current IFRA standards (49th Amendment).
RIFM Assessment
Under review – preliminary data suggests low sensitization potential.
Sustainability
Synthetic production avoids agricultural land use and seasonal variability of natural citrus oils. Manufacturing typically uses green chemistry principles with >80% atom economy. Being petroleum-derived, life cycle analysis shows lower carbon footprint than distilled citrus oils when transport is factored.
Explore 4,7-Dimethyloct-6-en-3-one
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References
- Bauer et al. (2001). Modern Synthetic Citrus Materials. Perfumer & Flavorist.
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 2550-11-0Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 154.25 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 2.9🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 198 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.279 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 73 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0242💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.582💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCC(=O)C(C)CC=C(C)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 1 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | citrusfreshfruitygrapefruit• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | ketonealkene💻 RDKit |
Regulatory Status
| IFRA Listed | Yes — see IFRA Standards for category limits⚖️ IFRA 51 |
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: DTXSID20862985
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 154.253 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.847 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 198 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 10.803 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 73 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.436 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 184.515 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.151 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.151 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.151 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.86 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.002 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.279 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 1.052 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 25.862 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 129.435 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 17.07 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 4 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 48.266 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 19.134 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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