Citral, from lemongrass oil, can be readily and chemoselectively reduced using simple organocatalysts. In this undergraduate organic laboratory experiment, students perform two reductions and determine whether the products are citronellal, geraniol, or nerol using a variety of analytical techniques (TLC, IR, NMR, GC-MS, smell). All four of these compounds occur in plants, have pleasant smells, and are widely used in the flavor and fragrance industry.

Chemoselective, biomimetic reductions of citral to other natural perfumes

239th National Meeting (2010)

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