4,7-Octadienoic acid, methyl ester, (4E)- (CAS 189440-77-5) — Green Top to middle Note Fragrance Ingredient

Green · Sweet

4,7-Octadienoic acid, methyl ester, (4E)-

CAS 189440-77-5

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

What Is 4,7-Octadienoic acid, methyl ester, (4E)-?

4,7-Octadienoic acid, methyl ester, (4E)- is a synthetic fragrance ingredient used in modern perfumery. It contributes to fresh, green, and slightly fruity accords. This molecule is found in niche and avant-garde fragrances where unique green notes are desired. Its importance lies in providing perfumers with a crisp, unsaturated ester character that bridges herbal and fruity olfactory spaces without being overly sweet or heavy.

Safety Profile

GENERALLY SAFE
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
No major restrictions reported
Limited toxicological data available
CAS
189440-77-5
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Green · Sweet
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does 4,7-Octadienoic acid, methyl ester, (4E)- Smell Like?

This unsaturated ester delivers a sharp green opening reminiscent of crushed tomato leaves and unripe kiwi skin, with a subtle metallic edge. The heart reveals a watery cucumber-like freshness layered over a faintly musky undertone. Dry-down is surprisingly persistent for its structure, leaving a clean, slightly waxy green impression akin to the after-scent of snapped pea pods. The (4E)-configuration ensures a brighter, more linear scent profile compared to its (4Z)-isomer.

Scent Profile

In Famous Fragrances

Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.

Synthetic Jungle(Frederic Malle, 2021)

Used as a hyper-realistic green amplifier, creating the illusion of chlorophyll-rich foliage without floral sweetness. The ester’s sharpness counters the composition’s white florals.

Green Irish Tweed(Creed, 1985)

Modern reformulations employ trace amounts to enhance the violet leaf note, adding a contemporary crispness to this classic fougère structure.

Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Methyl (4E)-octa-4,7-dienoate

SMILES: COC(=O)CC\C=C\CC=C

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

As an α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated methyl ester, this molecule belongs to the family of aliphatic esters with extended conjugation. The (4E)-configuration creates distinct steric and electronic properties compared to its (4Z)-isomer. Industrial synthesis typically proceeds via Wittig olefination of appropriate aldehyde precursors followed by esterification. The trans-double bond at position 4 contributes to greater stability and a more piercing odor character than cis-configured analogs.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling PointNot established
DensityNot established

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Top to middle
Volatility
Medium (2-4 hours)
Blending
Good with citrus and woody notes
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance0.1-0.5%Up to 1%Powerful green modifier
Functional Fragrance0.01-0.1%Up to 0.3%Freshness booster

Classic Accords

Tip: Stabilize in ethanol before blending to prevent oxidative degradation of the diene system.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Methyl 2-octenoate CAS 111-79-5

For simpler green effects with less metallic character and better stability in alkaline formulations.

2
Methyl 2,4-decadienoate CAS 3025-30-7

When a fruitier, pear-like green note is desired with similar unsaturated ester functionality.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

Not currently restricted by IFRA standards. No specific use limitations documented.

RIFM Assessment

No public RIFM assessment available. Considered low priority due to limited commercial use.

Sustainability

As a purely synthetic material, production avoids agricultural land use but depends on petrochemical feedstocks. The multi-step synthesis requires careful solvent recovery to minimize environmental impact. Future green chemistry approaches may enable biocatalytic production from renewable resources.

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References

  1. Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press. ISBN 9781420090869

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

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Ingredient Data Sheet

CAS 189440-77-5

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight154.21 g/mol🔬 PubChem
LogP (Octanol-Water)2.1🔬 PubChem
Boiling Point208 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Vapor Pressure0.5495 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
Flash Point67.3 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
Involatility Index0.0477💻 Calculated
log Kp (skin permeability)-2.15💻 Calculated
SMILESCOC(=O)CCC=CCC=C🔬 PubChem

Volatility & Performance

Fragrance NoteTop💻 Calculated
Volatility ClassSlow💻 Calculated
Persistence Score0.5 / 5💻 Calculated

Odor & Flavor

Primary Descriptorsgreensweet• leffingwell
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: DTXSID4051827

Physical Properties

Molecular Weight 154.209 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
Density 0.914 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
Boiling Point 194.908 °C📊 OPERA
Melting Point -34.091 °C📊 OPERA
Flash Point 71.657 °C📊 OPERA
Refractive Index 1.448 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
Molar Volume 169.287 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

Partition & Solubility

LogP (Octanol-Water) 2.718 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 5.5) 2.718 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogD (pH 7.4) 2.718 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 4.31 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
Water Solubility 0.009 mol/L📊 OPERA
Henry's Law Constant 0.001 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

Transport Properties

Vapor Pressure 0.474 mmHg📊 OPERA
Viscosity 1.038 cP📊 OPERA
Surface Tension 28.052 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
Thermal Conductivity 140.152 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 5 count💻 Computed
Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
Molar Refractivity 45.303 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
Polarizability 17.959 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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