New method for obtaining perfume molecules discovered by UNN chemists

Lobachevsky University scientists have developed a one-step reaction for the synthesis of unsaturated aldehydes, which are widely used in household chemistry and in perfumes. The method allows the synthesis of cyclamen aldehyde, a substance with the smell of cyclamen flower and fresh herbs. This method makes it is possible to replace lilial, a perfume fragrance with the smell of lily of the valley that was recently banned for use in Russia and Europe, by producing its non-toxic analogues. According to UNN chemists, the range of applications of the new reaction is not limited to perfumes and household chemicals.

"The newly discovered reaction enables the production of starting materials for the synthesis of anticancer drugs, protective coatings for the underwater part of ship's hull  against algae and microorganisms, and even fungicides to protect crops from parasitic fungi," said Alexei Fedorov, head of the UNN Department of Organic Chemistry, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

In developing the reaction, the scientists managed to isolate the unsaturated aldehyde molecule using simple and affordable reagents: formaldehyde, dimethylamine and styrenes. Toluene was used as a solvent, zinc and lithium salts were used as reaction catalysts and water carriers.

"Usually the synthesis of similar unsaturated aldehydes takes a long time and requires 5 to 10 steps, but we managed to find a fast and simple one-step method for their preparation with yields of target products reaching 80%. This is a promising synthetic method that allows us to obtain large libraries of organic molecules," said Vasily Otvagin, researcher at the Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Compounds and Their Synthetic Analogues at the UNN Faculty of Chemistry.

According to the scientists, similar compounds are produced today in Germany and the USA. Once the synthesis technology is optimised for industrial production, the method can be applied in the Russian chemical industry.

Lobachevsky University chemists continue researching the reaction mechanism, experimenting with reagents and their combinations to obtain new molecules. They are planning to make the synthesis even faster and cheaper.

The work was carried out by the Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Compounds and Their Synthetic Analogues at the UNN Faculty of Chemistry as part of the project "Synthesis of biologically active compounds with antitumour, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic and antiviral properties, study of their physico-chemical and biological properties".