Structure via PubChem · Public domain (PubChem)
citral
Sign in to saveCitral is an acyclic monoterpene aldehyde. Being a monoterpene, it is made of two isoprene units. Citral is a collective term which covers two geometric isomers that have their own separate names; the E-isomer is named geranial (trans-citral; α-citral) or citral A. The Z-isomer is named neral (cis-citral; β-citral) or citral B. These stereoisomers occur as a mixture, often not in equal proportions; e.g. in essential oil of Australian ginger, the neral to geranial ratio is 0.61.
Chemical data
- Formula
- C10H16O
- Molecular weight
- 152.23 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienal
- SMILES
- CC(=CCCC(=CC=O)C)C
- InChIKey
- WTEVQBCEXWBHNA-UHFFFAOYSA-N
- XLogP
- 3
- Polar surface area
- 17.1 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 0
- H-bond acceptors
- 1
- Formal charge
- 0
via PubChem
Wikidata facts
- Mass
- 152.12
Show 3 more facts
- Commons category
- Citral
- canonical SMILES
- CC(=CCCC(=CC=O)C)C
- chemical formula
- C₁₀H₁₆O
via Wikidata · CC0
~2 min read
Article
7 sectionsContents
- Natural Occurrence
- Uses
- Fragrances
- Food additive
- See also
- References
- External links
Citral is an acyclic monoterpene aldehyde. Being a monoterpene, it is made of two isoprene units. Citral is a collective term which covers two geometric isomers that have their own separate names; the E-isomer is named geranial (trans-citral; α-citral) or citral A. The Z-isomer is named neral (cis-citral; β-citral) or citral B. These stereoisomers occur as a mixture, often not in equal proportions; e.g. in essential oil of Australian ginger, the neral to geranial ratio is 0.61.
== Natural Occurrence == Citral is present in the volatile oils of several plants: