Record Information
Version1.0
Creation date2015-10-09 22:33:22 UTC
Update date2017-01-19 02:36:41 UTC
FoodComEx IDPC000912
FoodDB RecordFDB008068
Chemical Information
NameHexanal
DescriptionHexanal, 1-hexanal, n-hexanal, is also known as caproaldehyde or hexanaldehyde. It belongs to the class of organic compounds known as medium-chain aldehydes which have a chain length between 6 and 12 carbon atoms and therefore is considered a fatty aldehyde lipid molecule. Hexanal is a very hydrophobic molecule that is relatively neutral. It is a colorless clear liquid. It has a fresh green, fatty or grassy scent with a green, fatty, leafy or aldehydic taste. Hexanal exists in all eukaryotes, from yeast to humans. Different foods contain hexanal with the highest concentrations found in black walnuts, corns, and tea and with lower concentrations in common grapes, thornless blackberries, and tortilla. Hexanal has also been detected in palms, mentha (mint), wax gourds, grapes, and kiwis making hexanal a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. Hexanal has been used to increase post-harvest longevity and color of certain fruits ( https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809807-3.00009-3). Hexanal was also detected in humans breastmilk samples. Among mediators of oxidative stress, highly reactive secondary aldehydic lipid peroxidation products can initiate the processes of spontaneous mutagenesis and carcinogenesis and can also act as a growth-regulating factors and signaling molecules. In specimens obtained from adult patients with brain astrocytomas, lower levels of n-hexanal, together with higher levels of 2-hydroxyhexanal and 4-hydroxynonena, are associated with poorer patient prognosis (PMID: 17487452). Hexanal has also been identified as a uremic toxin according to the European Uremic Toxin Working Group because its concentrations in uremic patients were found to exceed the normal general population concentrations (PMID: 22626821). Hexanal is a volatile compound that has been associated with the development of undesirable flavours and has been proposed as a potential marker of milk quality. Hexanal, a major breakdown product of linoleic acid (LA, n – 6, an polyunsaturated fatty acid, PUFA) oxidation, has been used to follow the course of lipid oxidation and off-flavour development in foods. A "cardboard-like" off-flavour is frequently associated with dehydrated milk products such as baby formulae and was correlated with the hexanal concentration (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2007.08.042).
CAS Number66-25-1
Structure
Thumb
Synonyms
SynonymSource
1-Hexanalbiospider
Caproaldehydedb_source
Caproic aldehydedb_source
Capronaldehydebiospider
FEMA 2557db_source
Hexaldehydebiospider
Hexanaldehydebiospider
Hexoic aldehydebiospider
Hexyl aldehydebiospider
Hexylaldehydebiospider
N-caproaldehydebiospider
N-caproic aldehydebiospider
N-capronaldehydebiospider
N-caproylaldehydebiospider
N-hexaldehydebiospider
N-hexanalbiospider
N-hexylaldehydebiospider
Chemical FormulaC6H12O
IUPAC namehexanal
InChI IdentifierInChI=1S/C6H12O/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7/h6H,2-5H2,1H3
InChI KeyJARKCYVAAOWBJS-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Isomeric SMILESCCCCCC=O
Average Molecular Weight100.1589
Monoisotopic Molecular Weight100.088815006
Chemical Taxonomy
Description Belongs to the class of organic compounds known as medium-chain aldehydes. These are an aldehyde with a chain length containing between 6 and 12 carbon atoms.
KingdomOrganic compounds
Super ClassOrganic oxygen compounds
ClassOrganooxygen compounds
Sub ClassCarbonyl compounds
Direct ParentMedium-chain aldehydes
Alternative Parents
Substituents
  • Medium-chain aldehyde
  • Alpha-hydrogen aldehyde
  • Organic oxide
  • Hydrocarbon derivative
  • Aliphatic acyclic compound
Molecular FrameworkAliphatic acyclic compounds
External Descriptors
Physico-Chemical Properties - Experimental
PropertyValueReference
Experimental logP1.78HANSCH,C ET AL. (1995)
Experimental Water Solubility5.64 mg/mL at 30 oCDAVIS,PL (1968)
Melting Point-56 oC
Foods of Origin
FoodContent Range AverageReference
FoodReference
Production Data
Production Methodcommercial
Production Method ReferenceNot Available
Production Method Reference FileNot Available
Quantity AvailableProduction upon request, up to 2 g
Delivery TimeNot Available
Storage Formliquid
Storage Conditions-80°C
StabilityNot Available
PurityNot Available
Spectra
Spectral Data Upon RequestNot Available
Provider Information
Contact NameContact InstitutionContact Email
Rosa Vazquez Fresnovazquezf@ualberta.ca
Commercial Vendors
AKSci 7134AH
Toronto Research Chemicals H292130