Muscone

Muscone

Muscone is a organic compound that is primarily found in the glandular secretions of the Musk deer. It is a macrocyclic ketone and is one of the main contributors to the characteristic smell of musk.

Chemical Structure

Muscone has a 15-membered ring structure, which is the largest size for a monocyclic compound. The structure is heavily substituted with methyl groups, which contribute to its strong, aromatic smell. The compound is chiral, meaning it has a non-superimposable mirror image. However, only the (R)-enantiomer occurs naturally.

Production

Muscone is primarily obtained from the musk glands of the male musk deer. However, due to the decline in musk deer populations, synthetic production methods have been developed. One such method is the Ruzicka large ring synthesis, which was developed by Leopold Ruzicka in the 1920s. This method involves the cyclization of a long-chain dicarboxylic acid to produce the macrocyclic structure.

Uses

Muscone is used extensively in the perfume industry due to its strong, aromatic smell. It is also used in traditional Chinese medicine for its supposed therapeutic properties. However, due to the decline in musk deer populations, synthetic muscone is now predominantly used.

Safety

Muscone is generally considered safe for use in perfumes and cosmetics. However, it can cause skin irritation in some individuals. It is recommended that products containing muscone are patch tested before use.

See Also

• Musk
• Perfume
• Organic chemistry
• Leopold Ruzicka