Methoxymethylpyrazine (CAS 63450-30-6) — Green Top to middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
Methoxymethylpyrazine
CAS 63450-30-6
What Is Methoxymethylpyrazine?
Methoxymethylpyrazine is a synthetic fragrance ingredient that mimics the earthy, green notes found in bell peppers and fresh vegetables. You’ll encounter it in perfumes aiming for crisp, vegetal top notes or modern green fragrances. This molecule matters because it provides perfumers with an ultra-concentrated way to add naturalistic green character without using volatile natural extracts. Its potency allows for precise control in creating lifelike vegetal accords.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does Methoxymethylpyrazine Smell Like?
Methoxymethylpyrazine bursts with the crisp snap of freshly cut bell peppers – vegetal, slightly sweet, and intensely green. The opening is almost photo-realistic, like walking through a greenhouse at dawn when the plants release their morning moisture. As it evolves, the sharpness softens into a more rounded green leaf character, with subtle earthy undertones reminiscent of tomato vines. In drydown, it leaves a whisper of damp soil and crushed stems, making it invaluable for creating living, breathing green accords that feel plucked from nature.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used in reformulations to recreate the legendary galbanum burst, adding hyper-realistic bell pepper facets to the iconic green chypre structure.
Accents the mango top note with crisp vegetal freshness, creating the illusion of sun-warmed fruit still on the branch.
Provides subtle leafy verisimilitude beneath the citrus and violet leaf, enhancing the fragrance’s outdoor freshness.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: COCC1=CN=CC=N1
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Methoxymethylpyrazine belongs to the alkylmethoxypyrazine class, known for their extremely low odor thresholds (often detectable below 1 part per trillion). While pyrazines occur naturally in many vegetables, this specific methoxy variant is exclusively synthetic. It’s typically produced through nucleophilic substitution reactions on chloropyrazine precursors. The methoxy group’s electron-donating properties enhance the molecule’s stability while maintaining its potent olfactory characteristics. Unlike some pyrazines that degrade under UV light, the methoxymethyl substitution pattern provides improved photostability for fragrance applications.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow liquid |
|---|---|
| Odor Threshold | <1 ppt in water |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.001-0.01% | Up to 0.05% | Used in trace amounts for naturalistic effects |
| Functional Fragrances | 0.0005-0.002% | Up to 0.005% | Adds freshness to cleaning products |
Classic Accords
Tip: Always pre-dilute to 0.1% or lower before incorporating – this material can overwhelm a blend at full strength.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Offers similar green character but with added earthy-pea nuances, useful when a more rounded vegetal effect is desired.
The classic bell pepper pyrazine, more volatile and slightly sweeter, better for fleeting top notes.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No restrictions under IFRA 49th Amendment. Classified as a Specialty Ingredient with recommended maximums based on good manufacturing practice.
RIFM Assessment
RIFM evaluation confirms safe use at current industry levels with margin of safety for all application types.
Sustainability
As a synthetic material, methoxymethylpyrazine has minimal environmental impact in production compared to natural alternatives requiring agricultural resources. Its extreme potency means very small quantities are needed, reducing transportation emissions. The synthesis route avoids hazardous byproducts, aligning with green chemistry principles. However, some perfumers seek natural pyrazine sources for marketing purposes despite their lower olfactory efficiency.
Explore Methoxymethylpyrazine
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References
- Mihara & Masuda (2002). Structure-odor relationships for pyrazine derivatives. Chemical Senses. DOI:10.1093/chemse/27.1.1
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 63450-30-6Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 124.14 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | -0.5🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 158 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.2692 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 59.2 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.026💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -3.812💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | COCC1=NC=CN=C1🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 0.5 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | almondroasted• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | etheraromatic💻 RDKit |
Sensory Thresholds
| Odor Detection Threshold | 0.15 ppm📖 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: DTXSID1069827
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 124.143 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 1.075 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 165.477 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 30.131 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 63.498 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.498 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 115.061 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 0.68 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 0.68 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 0.68 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 4.54 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 2.355 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 1.03 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 2.329 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 37.812 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 138.618 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 | 2 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 33.73 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 13.372 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.
