Ambroxide
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| Names | |
|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name
(3aR,5aS,9aS,9bR)-3a,6,6,9a-Tetramethyldodecahydronaphtho[2,1-b]furan | |
| Other names
Ambrox (Firmenich) Ambrofix (Givaudan) Ambroxan (Kao)[1] Ambermox Ambermor Orcanox (3aR-(3aα,5aβ,9aα,9bβ))-Dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetra-methylnaphtho(2,1-b)furan; Naphtho(2,1-b)furan, dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethyl-,; 8α, 12-Oxido-13,14,15,16-tetranorlabdane; 1,5,5,9-Tetramethyl-13-oxatricyclo(8.3.0.0(4,9))tridecane | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| ChEBI | |
| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.027.147 |
| EC Number |
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PubChem CID |
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| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| C16H28O | |
| Molar mass | 236.399 g·mol−1 |
| Density | 0.939 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 75 °C (167 °F; 348 K) |
| Boiling point | 120 °C (248 °F; 393 K) (1.40 mm Hg) |
| insoluble | |
| Solubility in ethanol | soluble |
Refractive index (nD) |
1.48 |
| Hazards | |
| Flash point | 161 °C (322 °F; 434 K) |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Ambroxide, widely known by the brand name Ambroxan, is a naturally occurring terpenoid and one of the key constituents responsible for the odor of ambergris. It is an autoxidation product of ambrein.[2] Ambroxide is used in perfumery for creating ambergris notes and as a fixative.[2] Ambroxide has a scent with woody, musky and slightly salty nuances.[3] Small amounts (< 0.01 ppm) are used as a flavoring in food.[4] The FDA has approved the addition of ambroxide to food as a flavoring agent.[5]
The aroma is described as (characteristically) ambergris, sweet, labdanum, dry, woody, pine, cedar, green, and seedy.[6]
Ambroxide is highly tenacious and substantive. It clings to skin, fabric, and hard surfaces and persists for many hours, which is the basis of its role as a fixative. These properties make the molecule valuable both as a featured ingredient and as a behind-the-scenes performance booster.[7] The most prominent use of ambroxide is in fine fragrance, where it serves simultaneously as a base note and a fixative.
Synthesis
[edit]Ambroxide is synthesized from sclareol, a component of the essential oil of clary sage.[8] Sclareol is oxidatively degraded to a lactone, which is hydrogenated to the corresponding diol.[9] The resulting compound is dehydrated to form ambroxide.[2]
Conversion of sclareol to ambroxide
References
[edit]- ↑ "Ambroxan (Registration #3195685)". trademarkia.com. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- 1 2 3 Karl-Georg Fahlbusch; et al. (2007), "Flavors and Fragrances", Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry (7th ed.), Wiley, p. 72
- ↑ "Разница серой амбры и ноты амбры. Синтетические аналоги амбры". syntheticamber.ru. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
- ↑ George A. Burdock (2010), "1,5,5,9-TETRAMETHYL-13-OXATRICYCLO-(8.3.0.0(4,9)) TRIDECANE", Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients (6th ed.), CRC Press, p. 1895
- ↑ "Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS)". hfpappexternal.fda.gov. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
- ↑ "ambroxan". Scents and Flavors. Scents and Flavors. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
- ↑ "Bulk Buy - Ambroxide-Ambroxan-Ambrofix | Manufacturer-6790-58-5". 2026-07-18. Retrieved 2026-08-15.
- ↑ Brian M Lawrence (2003). Essential Oils 1995-2000. Allured Pub. ISBN 0-931710-94-4.
- ↑ Dub, Pavel A.; Gordon, John C. (2018). "The role of the metal-bound N–H functionality in Noyori-type molecular catalysts". Nature Reviews Chemistry. 2 (12): 396–408. doi:10.1038/s41570-018-0049-z. S2CID 106394152.