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METHYL 2-OCTYNOATE is a synthetic ester primarily used as a fragrance and flavor ingredient. It is a clear liquid known for its intensely powerful, waxy, and violet-like odor. When highly diluted, it delivers a fresh, green scent reminiscent of violet leaves and cucumber. This makes it a valuable component in perfumery for creating green, floral accords in perfumes, cosmetics, and soaps. It is also used in trace amounts to impart melon or cucumber flavors in foods. Due to its potency, it is always used in very low concentrations to avoid skin sensitization.
Methyl 2-octynoate is a synthetic organic compound classified as an ester of a terminal alkyne. Its structure consists of:
An 8-carbon chain (oct-)
With a triple bond starting at the second carbon (-2-yn-)
Terminated with a methyl ester group (-oate).
Its chemical formula is C₉H₁₄O₂. It is a clear, colorless to pale yellow liquid known almost exclusively for its powerful and distinctive odor.
This compound is highly significant in the fragrance and flavor industry due to its organoleptic properties:
Concentrated Odor: At full strength, its odor is often described as unpleasant, waxy, and violet-like with fatty, metallic, and earthy undertones.
Diluted Odor: However, when highly diluted, it undergoes an olfactory transformation. It becomes fresh, green, and strikingly reminiscent of violet leaves. This makes it an extremely valuable material for perfumers.
This powerful scent means it is used in minuscule quantities (often in concentrations well below 1%) to create complex naturalistic effects.
Methyl 2-octynoate is a key synthetic ingredient in modern perfumery and flavoring.
In Perfumery (its main use):
Violet Leaf Absolute Replica: Natural violet leaf absolute is extremely expensive and can cause allergic reactions. Methyl 2-octynoate is the most important constituent for recreating its characteristic cool, green, and "cucumber-like" scent.
Green and Fresh Accords: It is used in minute doses to add fresh, crisp, green top notes to perfumes. It is a classic component in chypre, fougère, and modern floral-aldehydic fragrances.
Effect: It provides a "dewy" and "outdoorsy" character, evoking the smell of crushed green leaves, cucumber, and fresh-cut stems.
In Flavors:
It is used to create or enhance cucumber, melon, and violet flavors in food and beverages, again at very low concentrations.
Safety: It is generally considered safe for use in fragrances and flavors as directed by industry standards. However, as with many fragrance ingredients, it can be a potential skin sensitizer for some individuals at higher concentrations. This is why it is always used in highly diluted forms.
Regulation: Its use in consumer products is governed by regulatory bodies like IFRA (International Fragrance Association) to ensure safe usage levels in finished products.
While it is produced synthetically for industrial use, methyl 2-octynoate has been identified as a natural constituent in traces within certain plants, contributing to their fresh green scent profile.
In essence, Methyl 2-octynoate is a powerful fragrance chemical prized for its ability to impart a fresh, green, violet-leaf character to perfumes and flavors. It is a perfect example of how a compound with an initially harsh aroma becomes a coveted ingredient through the art of dilution and blending in modern perfumery. Its value lies not in its standalone smell, but in the complex green nuance it adds to a fragrance composition.
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