MOLECULE

3-Methyl-2-butenal

3-Methyl-2-butenal, also known as senecialdehyde or 3,3-dimethylacrolein, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as enals. These are an alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde of general formula RC=C-CH=O in which the aldehydic C=O function is conjugated to a C=C triple bond at the alpha,beta position. 3-Methyl-2-butenal is an extremely weak basic (essentially neutral) compound (based on its pKa). 3-Methyl-2-butenal exists in all living organisms, ranging from bacteria to humans. 3-Methyl-2-butenal is a sweet, almond, and brown tasting compound. Outside of the human body, 3-Methyl-2-butenal has been detected, but not quantified in, several different foods, such as wild celeries, chinese cinnamons, persimmons, cereals and cereal products, and beans. This could make 3-methyl-2-butenal a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. An enal consisting of but-2-ene with a methyl substituent at position 3 and an oxo group at position 1. 3-Methyl-2-butenal is expected to be in Cannabis as all living plants are known to produce and metabolize it.