1-Phenyl-1,2-propanedione

Chemical properties

1-Phenyl-1,2-propanedione has a pungent, plastic odor.

Chemical properties

clear yellow liquid

Occurrence

Reported found as a constituent in coffee, baked potato and butter.

The Uses of 1-Phenyl-1,2-propanedione

Pyruvophenone was used in the synthesis of opioid receptor agonists for gastrointestinal disorders. The enantioselective hydrogenation of Pyruvophenone over Pt colloids was also studied.

Definition

ChEBI: An alpha-diketone that consists of 1-phenylpropane bearing keto substituents at positions 1 and 2. It is found in coffee.

Aroma threshold values

Aroma characteristics at 1.0%: creamy, buttery, fatty, slightly vanillalike, slightly walnut nutty, almond and marzipanlike with a woody styraxlike nuance, and having a slightly sour yeasty and fermented nuance.

Taste threshold values

Taste characteristics at 5 ppm: cultured creamy, dairylike and slightly astringent with a slight spicy caraway/ cumin nuance.

Synthesis Reference(s)

The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 36, p. 3553, 1971 DOI: 10.1021/jo00822a019

General Description

1-Phenyl-1,2-propanedione is a volatile flavor compound found in khat leaves and cambará honey.

Synthesis

By oxidation of propiophenone or benzyl methyl ketone with selenium dioxide; by the acid hydrolysis of oximonopropiophenone or other synthetic routes.