Menthone

• For the French commune see Menthon -Saint -Bernard.
• For the French politician and jurist François de Menthon (1900-1984) see François de Menthon.

2-propyl- (2 )-5- methyl -cyclohexanone 2-isopropyl -5- methylcyclohexanone

Colorless liquid, (-) -menthone has a weak minty odor

Liquid

0.89 g · cm - 3 (-) -menthone

-6 ° C (-) -menthone

207-210 ° C. (-) -menthone

67 Pa (20 ° C ) (-) -menthone

308 mg · l - 1 in water

1,451

Risk

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Menthone ( stress on the second syllable, menthone ) is monocyclic monoterpene ketone of the two enantiomers, (-) -menthone and ( ) -menthone.

Occurrence

(-) -Menthone can be found in geranium oil and peppermint oil.

( ) -Menthone, together with (-)- isomenthone the main component of the Buchu leaf oil ( Agathosma betulina ).

Production and representation

Menthone can be produced by oxidation of menthol. The simplest is the oxidation reaction with potassium dichromate in sulfuric acid.

Properties

Physical Properties

Menthon is a colorless liquid with minty odor. The compound solidifies at 6 ° C and boiling at atmospheric pressure at about 210 ° C. The racemate boils at 207 ° C. Both enantiomers are difficult but well soluble in water with 308 mg · l-1 in ethanol and have a density of 0.89 g · cm -3. The flash point of the enantiomers is 72 ° C, the racemate of 69 ° C.