MOLECULE

(E,E)-2,4-Heptadienal

2,4-Heptadienal or (E,E)-2,4-heptadienal belongs to the class of organic compounds known as medium-chain aldehydes. These are an aldehyde with a chain length containing between 6 and 12 carbon atoms. Thus, 2,4-heptadienal is considered to be a fatty aldehyde. 2,4-heptadienal is also known as polyunsaturated aldehyde. These compounds are classified by an aldehyde group covalently bound to long carbon chains containing two or more carbon-carbon double bonds. 2,4-heptadienal is a very hydrophobic molecule, practically insoluble in water, and relatively neutral. 2,4-heptadienal is an aldehydic, cake, and cinnamon tasting compound. 2,4-heptadienal has been detected, but not quantified in, several different foods, such as evergreen blackberries, cabbages, broccoli, corns, and tortilla chips. This could make 2,4-heptadienal a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. 2,4-heptadienal is also used as a flavoring additive in cigarettes. 2,4-heptadienal has also been reported to be found in Cannabis sativa (PMID: 6991645, 26657499).