Oct-1-en-3-one

Oct-1-en-3-one (CH₂=CHC(=O)(CH₂)₄CH₃), also known as 1-octen-3-one, is the odorant that is responsible for the typical metallic smell of metals and blood coming into contact with skin.^[1] Oct-1-en-3-one has a strong metallic mushroom-like odor with an odor detection threshold of 0.03 - 1.12 µg/m³ and it is the main compound responsible for the "smell of metal", followed by decanal (smell: orange skin, flowery) and nonanal (smell: tallowy, fruity).^[2] Oct-1-en-3-one is the degradative reduction product of the chemical reaction of skin lipid peroxides and Fe²⁺. Skin lipids are formed from skin lipid by oxidation, either enzymatically by lipoxygenases or by air oxygen. Oct-1-en-3-one is a ketone of the alkene 1-octene.

See also

• Odorant

References

1. ^ D. Glindemann, A. Dietrich, H. Staerk, P. Kuschk, (2005). "The Two Odors of Iron when Touched or Pickled: (Skin) Carbonyl Compounds and Organophosphines". Angewandte Chemie International Edition 45 (42): 7006 - 7009. doi:10.1002/anie.200602100.
2. ^ Supporting information for the Glindemann article