Dodecanenitrile (CAS 2437-25-4) — Citrus Top to middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
Dodecanenitrile
CAS 2437-25-4
What Is Dodecanenitrile?
Dodecanenitrile is a synthetic fragrance ingredient that contributes fresh, citrus-like notes to perfumes and household products. It’s often used in air fresheners and cleaning products for its clean, slightly floral aroma. This nitrile compound provides stability in formulations where citrus notes are desired without the volatility of natural citrus oils. Its synthetic nature makes it a consistent and cost-effective alternative to natural sources.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Dodecanenitrile Smell Like?
Dodecanenitrile opens with a crisp, aldehydic freshness reminiscent of peeled citrus zest, though less sharp than traditional citrus oils. As it evolves, it reveals a waxy, slightly floral heart akin to orange blossoms dipped in paraffin. The dry-down is surprisingly clean, leaving a faint metallic whisper that blends well with woody bases. Unlike natural citrus notes, it maintains remarkable stability on skin, neither fading quickly nor turning soapy.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCCCCCC#N
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Dodecanenitrile belongs to the nitrile class of organic compounds, characterized by a -C≡N functional group. While nitriles occur naturally in some plants (like almonds), commercial dodecanenitrile is exclusively synthetic, typically produced through hydrocyanation of undecene or oxidation of dodecylamine. The linear 12-carbon chain gives it moderate hydrophobicity, while the polar nitrile group contributes to its unique odor profile. Unlike many fragrance nitriles, it lacks the intense fruity character of shorter-chain counterparts, instead offering subtle citrus-waxy nuances.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow liquid |
|---|---|
| Molecular Weight | 181.29 g/mol |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Citrus note extender |
| Functional Products | 1-3% | Up to 8% | Air freshener base |
| Soaps | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Stable citrus note |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to extend citrus top notes in functional fragrances where natural citrus oils would degrade quickly.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
Not currently restricted by IFRA standards.
GHS Classification
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has not published a specific safety assessment for this material.
Sustainability
As a fully synthetic material, dodecanenitrile production avoids agricultural land use but depends on petrochemical feedstocks. Its stability reduces the need for frequent product reapplication compared to volatile natural citrus oils. Manufacturers are developing greener synthesis routes using bio-based dodecane precursors to reduce environmental impact.
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References
- Burdock, G.A. (2010). Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. CRC Press.
- PubChem Compound Summary for Nitriles PubChem
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 2437-25-4Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 181.32 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.7🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 277 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0024 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 118 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0002💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -0.469💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCCCCCCCCC#N🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Base💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 5.9 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| “However, it has not succeeded in surviving in the competition with the hundreds of other new perfume chemicals in the same overall odor character. At the present time (1968) it is not offered commercially from the regular suppliers of perfume chemicals.”📖 Arctander |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.0002 ppm (n=2)📖 van Gemert |
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: DTXSID1022188
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 181.323 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.82 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 277 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Melting Point | 4 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 118 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.436 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 220 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 4.595 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 4.595 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 4.595 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 6.33 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L🔬 EPA CTX |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.002 mmHg🔬 EPA CTX |
| Viscosity | 4.175 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 30.248 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 155.647 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 23.79 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 9 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 57.557 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 22.817 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.
