Tridecanal (CAS 10486-19-8) — Citrus Top to Middle Note Fragrance Ingredient
Tridecanal
CAS 10486-19-8
What Is Tridecanal?
Tridecanal is a synthetic fragrance ingredient with a waxy, citrus-like aroma. It’s commonly used in perfumes and household products to add freshness. This aldehyde helps create modern, clean scents that evolve beautifully on skin, making it popular in contemporary fragrances.
Safety Profile
GENERALLY SAFEWhat Does Tridecanal Smell Like?
Tridecanal presents a crisp, waxy opening with hints of citrus peel and fresh laundry. As it develops, it reveals a clean, slightly floral heart reminiscent of soap bubbles and starched cotton. The dry-down is subtle yet persistent, leaving a faint trail of polished wood surfaces and candle wax. Its odor profile bridges freshness with sophistication, behaving like a quieter cousin to the famous C12 MNA aldehyde.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCCCCCCCCC=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
Tridecanal is a straight-chain aldehyde with 13 carbon atoms (C13), belonging to the fatty aldehyde family. It’s exclusively produced synthetically via oxidation of corresponding alcohols or through hydroformylation of olefins. As a mid-chain aldehyde, it occupies an interesting olfactory space between fresh-short chain aldehydes and warm-long chain variants. Its linear structure contributes to both volatility and substantivity in fragrance applications.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 198.34 g/mol |
|---|---|
| Boiling Point | ≈240-260 °C (estimated) |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Freshness enhancer |
| Functional Fragrances | 0.1-1% | Up to 3% | Clean laundry effects |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use to lift citrus compositions without adding fruity sweetness.
Alternatives & Comparisons
Shorter chain length provides brighter citrus character when more pronounced freshness is desired.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No IFRA restrictions currently apply to tridecanal (as of 2023).
RIFM Assessment
RIFM has reviewed tridecanal and found it safe for current fragrance uses.
Sustainability
As a synthetic material, tridecanal production follows standard petrochemical processes. Its efficient synthesis and low usage levels make it relatively sustainable compared to some natural ingredients. Modern production facilities implement green chemistry principles to minimize environmental impact during manufacturing.
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Perfumers Notes
Odor Profile
Citrus, fatty, orange, waxy.
Standard Dilution
10% in DPG (standard dilution for most fragrance materials)
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID4021682
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 198.35 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.83 g/cm^3🔬 EPA CTX |
| Boiling Point | 257.49 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 14.375 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Flash Point | 117 °C🔬 EPA CTX |
| Refractive Index | 1.433 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 240.442 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 5.636 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 5.636 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 5.636 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 6.9 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.01 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 3.625 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 27.868 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 151.231 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 | 11 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 62.463 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 24.762 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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