Geranylacetone is an organic compound with the formula CH3C(O)(CH2)2CH=C(CH3)(CH2)2CH=C(CH3)2. A colorless oil, it is the product of coupling geranyl and acetonyl groups. It is a precursor to synthetic squalene.
Synthesis and occurrence
Geranylacetone can be produced by transesterification of ethyl acetoacetate with
linalool:
The esterification of linalool can also be effected with
ketene or isopropenyl methyl ether. The resulting linalyl ester undergoes Carroll rearrangement to give geranylacetone. Geranyl acetone is a precursor to
isophytol, which is used in the manufacture of
Vitamin E. Other derivatives of geranyl acetone are
farnesol and
nerolidol.
Geranylacetone is a flavor component of many plants including rice, mango,
Together with other ketones, geranylacetone results from the degradation of vegetable matter by ozone.
Biosynthesis
It arises by the oxidation of certain
. Such reaction are catalyzed by carotenoid oxygenase.
