()-Bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylic acid, ethyl ester (CAS 10138-32-6) — Woody Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient

Woody · Green

()-Bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylic acid, ethyl ester

CAS 10138-32-6

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

What Is ()-Bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylic acid, ethyl ester?

This synthetic ingredient is a specialized fragrance compound rarely encountered by consumers directly. It may appear in niche perfumery or functional fragrances. As a complex ester, it contributes subtle woody-green nuances to fragrance compositions, though it’s primarily used as a building block for more complex aroma chemicals rather than a standalone note.

Safety Profile

USE WITH AWARENESS
Generally safeUse with awarenessProfessional use
No major restrictions at typical usage levels
Limited safety data available
CAS
10138-32-6
Formula
Mixture
MW
Variable
Odor Family
Woody · Green
Layer 1 · Enthusiast

What Does ()-Bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylic acid, ethyl ester Smell Like?

The odor profile of this bicyclic ester is characterized by a clean, slightly camphoraceous woody character with subtle green undertones. In dilution, it reveals a faintly fruity-esteric nuance reminiscent of unripe apples. The dry-down tends toward a dry, paper-like woody note with minimal sweetness. When used in trace amounts, it can add diffusion and lift to woody compositions without dominating the fragrance profile.

Scent Profile
Layer 2

2D Molecular Structure

Bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylic acid, ethyl ester

SMILES: CCOC(=O)C1CC2CC1C=C2

Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide

The Chemistry

This compound belongs to the class of bicyclic esters derived from norbornene. The bicyclo[2.2.1]heptene skeleton provides structural rigidity that influences both volatility and odor characteristics. While not found in nature, it serves as an intermediate in the synthesis of more complex fragrance ingredients. The ethyl ester group contributes to its moderate volatility and clean esteric character.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Boiling PointNot available
DensityNot available

Perfumer Guide

Note Position
Middle
Volatility
Medium (2-6 hours)
Blending
Fair
ApplicationTypical %RangeNotes
Fine Fragrance0.1-0.5%Up to 1%Used as a modifier in woody accords
Functional Fragrances0.05-0.2%Up to 0.5%Provides clean woody notes
Household Products0.01-0.1%Up to 0.2%Adds subtle freshness

Classic Accords

Tip: Use in trace amounts to add diffusion to woody bases without introducing sweetness.

Alternatives & Comparisons

1
Ethyl 2-methylpentanoate CAS 39255-32-8

Offers similar esteric character with more pronounced fruity notes when a stronger top note effect is desired.

2
Norbornyl acetate CAS 25435-75-6

Provides comparable woody-camphoraceous effects with better substantivity for longer-lasting fragrances.

Layer 3

Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability

⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer

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

IFRA Status

No specific IFRA restrictions. General guidelines for ester compounds apply.

RIFM Assessment

Not currently evaluated by RIFM. Safety assessment based on structural analogs.

Sustainability

As a fully synthetic material, this compound avoids natural resource depletion but requires petrochemical feedstocks. Production typically involves catalytic processes with moderate energy requirements. The bicyclic structure offers good stability, potentially reducing fragrance loss and the need for reapplication in end products.

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References

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

    Report a data error

    Ingredient Data Sheet

    CAS 10138-32-6

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight166.22 g/mol🔬 PubChem
    LogP (Octanol-Water)1.9🔬 PubChem
    Boiling Point231 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    Vapor Pressure0.0234 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point75.3 °C🔬 EPA CompTox
    Involatility Index0.002💻 Calculated
    log Kp (skin permeability)-2.365💻 Calculated
    SMILESCCOC(=O)C1CC2CC1C=C2🔬 PubChem

    Volatility & Performance

    Fragrance NoteHeart💻 Calculated
    Volatility ClassVery slow💻 Calculated
    Persistence Score2.5 / 5💻 Calculated

    Odor & Flavor

    Primary Descriptorsfruitygreenhoney• 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: DTXSID30884451

    Physical Properties

    Molecular Weight 166.22 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox
    Density 1.089 g/cm^3📊 OPERA
    Boiling Point 224.106 °C📊 OPERA
    Melting Point 33.806 °C📊 OPERA
    Flash Point 86.006 °C📊 OPERA
    Refractive Index 1.508 Dimensionless📊 OPERA
    Molar Volume 152.625 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA

    Partition & Solubility

    LogP (Octanol-Water) 2.845 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 5.5) 2.845 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogD (pH 7.4) 2.845 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    LogKoa (Octanol-Air) 5.05 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA
    Water Solubility 0.013 mol/L📊 OPERA
    Henry's Law Constant 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA

    Transport Properties

    Vapor Pressure 0.123 mmHg📊 OPERA
    Viscosity 4.744 cP📊 OPERA
    Surface Tension 34.619 dyn/cm📊 OPERA
    Thermal Conductivity 123.212 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 2 count💻 Computed
    Aromatic Rings 0 count💻 Computed
    Molar Refractivity 45.522 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA
    Polarizability 18.046 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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