Velvione®

Other comments :

Velvione® is one of the most floral and benzylated musks. For this reason, it is associated to Ambrettolide, although it is less powerful and also less expensive to use.

Stability :

Musks are very stable, as in alcoholic and in functional fragrances, except in acid cleaners, antiperspirants and bleach.

Uses in perfumery :

Velvione® is used in floral notes, especially white and solar, and in feminine notes in general, to provide tenacity and trail.

Year of discovery :

1970

Isomerism :

Velvione® used in perfumery is a 60/40 mixture of its trans/cis isomers. There is no enantiomerically pure version marketed. In addition, Velvione® is a constitutional isomer of Muscenone®. Their structure remains fairly close, and can explain the musky aspect they share.

Synthesis precursor :

Velvione® does not synthesize other compounds of olfactory interest.

Natural availability :

Velvione® is not available in its natural state.

Synthesis route :

Velvione® is synthesized in three steps, starting from cyclododecanone. This molecule is able to react with chlorine under pressure to obtain 2-chlorocyclododecanone, formed in priority. Then, this compound reacts with two molar equivalents of vinyl magnesium chloride to give 1,2-divinyl-cyclododecan-1-ol. By an Oxy-Cope rearrangement, Velvione® forms by itself (this rearrangement reorganizes the skeleton of certain unsaturated alcohols). The conversion of alcohol to an alcoholate accelerates the rearrangement. In this last step, the alcohol group becomes the ketone group of Velvione®.