MOLECULE

Phenylacetaldehyde

Phenylacetaldehyde, also known as alpha-tolualdehyde or 2-phenylethanal, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as phenylacetaldehydes. Phenylacetaldehydes are compounds containing a phenylacetaldehyde moiety, which consists of a phenyl group substituted at the second position by an acetalydehyde. Phenylacetaldehyde is an extremely weak basic (essentially neutral) compound (based on its pKa). Phenylacetaldehyde exists in all living species, ranging from bacteria to humans. Phenylacetaldehyde is a sweet, bitter, and clover tasting compound. Outside of the human body, Phenylacetaldehyde is found, on average, in the highest concentration within a few different foods, such as corns, beers, and white wines and in a lower concentration in safflowers, taco, and bilberries. Phenylacetaldehyde has also been detected, but not quantified in, several different foods, such as small-leaf lindens, green beans, sweet oranges, mountain yams, and common thymes. This could make phenylacetaldehyde a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. An aldehyde that consists of acetaldehyde bearing a methyl substituent; the parent member of the phenylacetaldehyde class of compounds. Phenylacetaldehyde is a potentially toxic compound. Phenylacetaldehyde is expected to be in Cannabis as all living plants are known to produce and metabolize it.