Muscenone®

Other comments :

Muscenone® is slightly more powerful than Muscone®, with a similar structure.

Stability :

Musks are very stable, as in alcoholic and in functional fragrances

Uses in perfumery :

Muscenone® is used only in fine fragrance for all types of accords, especially musky, leather, chypre, fairly heavy and warm notes.
Gives volume when mixed with other musks.

Year of discovery :

Discovered in 1967. 'Muscenone®' trademark has been published and protected by Firmenich SA since 28/01/2011 (brand N°1069869)

Isomerism :

The molecule has a double bond that gives rise to two possible diastereoisomers with similar smells. It is the mixture of the two isomers that is used in perfumery. Sandela®, Cedramber® and Ambroxan® are constitutional isomers of Muscenone®. Their smell is however very different, as it is woody and ambery, instead of musky. Velvione®, on the other hand, has a structure that is relatively similar to Muscenone® and is its constitutional isomer. This explains the musky aspect shared by both molecules.

Synthesis precursor :

Muscenone® is not a precursor to the synthesis of another compound of olfactory interest.

Natural availability :

Muscenone® is not available in its natural state.

Synthesis route :

Muscenone® is a macrocyclic musk synthesized from cyclododecanone. A synthesis in several steps allows to synthesize 14-methyl-16-oxabicyclo [10.3.1] hexadec-1(15)-ene. This compound can finally be isomerized in the presence of phosphoric acid to give the racemic mixture of Muscenone®.