Chirality & Odour Perception
John C. Leffingwell, Ph.D.

The Massoia lactones

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Photo by permission of M. Roudintska - Art & Parfum

(R)-(-)-massoialactone - Heavy tonka like top note and less fruity than (S)-(+)-enantiomer. Base note is strongly coconut like with fatty aspects. This enantiomer exhibits a more pleasant character with more volume than the racemate.

= (6R)-(-)-6-pentyl-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one

Ref: Bourdineaud, Jean-Paul; Ehret, Charles; Petrzilka, Martin; Optically active lactones, World Patent WO/94107887, April 19, 1994

(S)-(+)-massoialactone - Fatty fruity (a bit tuberose like) top note, which is more intense than that of the (R)-(-)-enantiomer. upon evaporation the fatty aspects disappear in favor of a milky, coconut, tonka and a strong coumarin note.

= (6S)-(+)-6-pentyl-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one

Ref: Bourdineaud, Jean-Paul; Ehret, Charles; Petrzilka, Martin; Optically active lactones, World Patent WO/94107887, April 19, 1994

Cyclic Terpenoid Odorants

Bicyclic Terpenoid Odorants

Acyclic Terpenoid Odorants

Ionones, Irones, Damascones & Structurally Related Odorants

Acyclics (Alcohols, Esters, Acids, Aldehydes)

Lactones

Sesquiterpenoid Related Odorants

Steroid Urine Type Odorants

Sandalwood Type Odorants

Musk Odorants

Miscellaneous

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