CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of US Patent application No. 1 2/543,982 filed on August 1 9, 2009, at the United States Patents and Trademarks Office, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

[Para 001 ] Background of invention

[Para 002] Field of invention

The invention in general relates to flavor and aroma materials. More specifically, the present invention relates to novel hydro-alkoxyl citronellal compounds to generate new flavor and/or aroma materials (compositions).

[Para 003] Description of prior art

[Para 004] Hydroxycitronellal is a valuable perfume or fragrance, widely used in soap and cosmetic perfumery. Paul Z. Bedonkian, perfumery and flavoring synthesis, second edition, 1967, page 182, refers to it as "an indispensable ingredient in most perfume compositions"

Hydroxycitronellal

[Para 005] Hydroxycitronellal is colorless oily or viscous liquid. Sp. Gr.0.93. B. P.241 ° C. Very slightly soluble in water, soluble in alcohol and oils. It is poorly soluble in mineral oil and glycerin or propylene glycol. [Para 006] The present inventors have discovered that novel perfume compositions and perfumed articles and colognes having particularly those possessing a fine herbal and floral aroma, useful as fragrances suitable for incorporation in fine fragrances, cosmetics, toiletries and related applications could be produced by incorporating new structural features not hitherto reported onto the hydroxycitronellal. These compounds are in general called 2,3,7-trimethyl-7-alkoxy-octanal (STR#GEN) and in exemplary embodiments of the present invention represented as STR#I, STR#II and STR#III for purposes of illustration. The invention also provides a novel, economical and commercially viable process from readily available and low cost raw materials for preparing these compounds.

[Para 007] It is the principle objective of the present invention to disclose novel perfume compositions and perfumed articles and colognes having particularly those possessing a fine herbal and floral aroma, useful as fragrances suitable for incorporation in fine fragrances, cosmetics, toiletries and related applications could be produced by incorporating new structural features not hitherto reported onto the hydroxycitronellal.

[Para 008] The present invention fulfills the aforesaid objective and provides further related advantages.

[Para 009] Summary of the invention

[Para 0010] The present invention discloses new chemical entities in general called 2, 3, 7-trimethyl-7-alkoxy-octanals and represented by the structure STR#GEN. More specifically, the present invention relates to the novel hydro-alkoxyl citronellal compounds represented as STR#I, STR#II and STR#III to generate new flavor and/or aroma materials. The novel compounds and synthetic routes thereof are disclosed.

(STR#GEN)

(STR#I) (STR#II) (STR#III)

[Para 001 1 ] Detailed description of the most preferred embodiment

[Para 001 2] In the most preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to new chemical entities in general called 2, 3, 7-trimethyl-7-alkoxy-octanals and represented by the structure STR#GEN wherein "R" represents an alkyl, allyl, alkenyl, or aryl alkyl groups. In exemplary embodiments, the present invention relates to the novel hydro-alkoxyl citronellal compounds (new chemical entities) represented as STR#I, STR#II and STR#III to generate new flavor and/or aroma materials. In yet another preferred embodiment, the present invention discloses the general synthetic scheme (GENERAL SCHEME) for the preparation of new chemical entities in general called 2, 3, 7-trimethyl-7-alkoxy-octanals and represented by the structure STR#GEN wherein "R" represents an alkyl, allyl, alkenyl, or aryl alkyl groups. More specifically, the aforesaid general scheme is used for the preparation of novel hydro-alkoxyl citronellal compounds represented as STR#I, STR#II and STR#III.

(STR#GEN)

(STR#I) (STR#II) (STR#III)

[Para 001 3] (GENERAL SCHEME)

Isoprapyl

cMαioacetaie

Dai zeji's reaction

M ethy! heptenone STR=I. 2 and S STRnI, Il and III

R = -C ₁ H ₁ (ethyl) in STR=I. 4 and I

= -C H ₁ C H =C H , fal lyl} in STP=2.5 ΛIKI Il

= -C H ₁ C H ₁ C H _j (Π -P ropy I) STPaj. fi .mil III

[Para 0014] The first step of the General scheme represented herein above involves the hydro-alkoxy-addition of methyl heptenone. In specific embodiments, methyl heptenone and alcohol (ROH where R = Ethyl or AIIyI or n-Propyl) were taken in round bottom flask fitted with condenser. H2SO4 was added from a dropping funnel over 30 min time period. The time and temperature were maintained according to Table I. Water was added and the reaction mixture was neutralized with sodium bicarbonate. The organic product was extracted with dichloromethane and the dichloromethane layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The resultant products of the first step were purified by high vacuum distillation to give clear oils, purity judged to be well above 95%. The identity of the resultant products was established by NMR. Depending on structure of ROH, compounds represented by STR# 1 , 2 or 3 were the resultant products. [Para 001 5] Table I

[Para 001 6] In alternative embodiments, it is possible to use any alcohol for the hydro- alkoxy-addition of methyl heptanone. Thus a variety of related structures that serve as starting materials for several useful fragrance material end products may be obtained in the first step.

[Para 001 7] The second step of the general scheme represented herein above includes compounds represented by STR#1 , 2 or 3 as starting materials. In specific embodiments, sodium and isopropyl alcohol were taken in a round bottomed flask fitted with a condenser. The mixture was refluxed so that sodium dissolved completely. The reaction mixture was cooled to 0 ⁰ C, and a mixture containing isopropyl chloropropionate (IPCP) and compounds represented by STR# 1 , 2 or 3 was added at 0 ⁰ C over a period of 30 minutes under stirring (Darzen's reaction). The time and temperature were maintained as described in Table Il to give a glycidic ester which was isolated and identified by GC/mass spectra. This glycidic ester was cooled to 0 ⁰ C and sodium hydroxide solution was added over 30 minutes. The reaction was warmed slowly to room temperature under stirring. The pH was adjusted to 6-7 by adding acetic acid and extracted with dichloromethane (3 x 1 00ml) for removing impurities. The pH was gain adjusted to 5 using acetic acid. The aqueous layer was extracted with dichloromethane and dried over sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed and the product was purified by vacuum distillation. The resultant products of the second step included compounds of the STR# 4, 5 or 6 depending on the starting compounds represented by STR# 1 , 2 or 3 respectively. The structures of compounds represented by STR# 4, 5 or 6 were confirmed by IR and NMR data.

[Para 001 8] Table Il

[Para 001 9] The third step of the general scheme represented herein above includes compounds represented by STR#4, 5 or 6 respectively as starting materials. In specific embodiments, sodium and isopropyl alcohol were taken in a round bottomed flask fitted with a condenser. The mixture was refluxed so that sodium dissolved completely. The reaction mixture was cooled to 0 ⁰ C, and a mixture containing isopropyl chloroacetate (IPCA) and compounds represented by STR#4, 5 or 6 was added at 0 ⁰ C over a period of 30 minutes under stirring (Danzen reaction). The time and temperature were maintained as described in Table III to give a glycidic ester which was isolated and identified by GC/ mass spectra. This glycidic ester was cooled to 0 ⁰ C and sodium hydroxide solution was added over 30 minutes. The reaction was warmed slowly to room temperature under stirring. The pH was adjusted to 6-7 by adding acetic acid and extracted with dichloromethane (3 x 1 00ml) for removing impurities. The pH was gain adjusted to 5 using acetic acid. The aqueous layer was extracted with dichloromethane and dried over sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed and the product was purified by vacuum distillation. The resultant products of the third step included compounds (new chemical entities) represented by STR# I, Il and III respectively depending on the starting compounds represented by STR# 4, 5 or 6. STR# I, Il and III were confirmed by IR and NMR data.

[Para 0020] Table III

[Para 0021 ] The IR and NMR data for STR# I, Il and III are elucidated herein below. [Para 00221 STR# I

IR : C=O stretching at 1 724 cm-' ; C-O at stretching at 1 072 cm-' and C-H at stretching at 2972 cm- ¹

NMR in δ ppm: 21 H 0.96-1 .38, I H 1 .87, I H 2.51 , 2H 3.41 , I H 9.72. (Whenever multiplets are obtained, the center of the multiplet is given)

[Para 00231 STR# Il

IR : C=O stretching at 1 726 cm- ¹ ; C-O at stretching at 1 066 cm- ¹ and C-H at stretching at 2968 cm- ¹

NMR in δ ppm: 1 8H, 1 .26, I H 1 .87, I H 2.51 , 2H 3.87, 2H 5.24, I H 5.9, I H 9.72. (Whenever multiplets are obtained, the center of the multiplet is given)

[Para 00241 STR# III IR : C=O stretching at 1 726 cm- ¹ ; C-O at stretching at 1 081 cm- ¹ and C-H at stretching at 2966 cm- ¹

NMR in δ ppm: 23H 0.96-1 .38, I H 1 .87, I H 2.51 , 2H 3.41 , I H 9.72. (Whenever multiplets are obtained, the center of the multiplet is given)

[Para 0025] Exemplary examples of fragrant formulations prepared using compounds represented by STR# I, Il and III are elucidated herein below. Said formulations are only illustrative and not exhaustive representations.

[Para 0026] EXAMPLE I σable IV)

[Para 0027] Incorporation of 7-Ethoxy-2, 3, 7-trimethyl-octanal (STR#I) of the present invention into a perfume composition:

Table IV

[Para 0028] The aforesaid fragrance was found to be a pleasing fragrance with rose notes.

[Para 0029] EXAMPLE Il (Table V)

[Para 0030] Incorporation of 7-Allyloxy-2, 3, 7-trimethyl-octanal (STR#II) of the present invention into a perfume composition: [Para 0031 ] Table V

[Para 0032] The above fragrance was found to be a pleasing fragrance with lavender note.

[Para 0033] EXAMPLE III σable Vl) [Para 0034] Incorporation of 2, 3, 7-trimethyl-7-propoxy-octanal (STR#III) of the present invention into a perfume composition:

Table Vl

[Para 0035] The above fragrance was found to be a pleasing fragrance with herbal and floral note.

[Para 0036] Illustrative examples presented herein above do not limit the invention. Persons familiar with the art will be able to produce more such examples and such examples are also covered by this invention.