Crotonaldehyde is a chemical compound with the formula CH3CH=CHCHO. The compound is usually sold as a mixture of the E- and Z-isomers, which differ with respect to the relative position of the methyl and formyl groups. The E-isomer is more common (data given in Table is for the E-isomer). This lachrymatory liquid is moderately soluble in water and miscible in organic solvents. As an unsaturated aldehyde, crotonaldehyde is a versatile intermediate in organic synthesis. It occurs in a variety of foodstuffs, e.g. soybean oils.[4]
It is a precursor to many fine chemicals. A prominent industrial example is the crossed aldol condensation with diethyl ketone to give trimethylcyclohexenone, this can be easily converted to trimethylhydroquinone, which is a precursor to the vitamin E.[8] Other derivatives include crotonic acid, 3-methoxybutanol and the food preservative Sorbic acid. Condensation with two equivalents of urea gives a pyrimidine derivative that is employed as a controlled-release fertilizer.
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Safety
Crotonaldehyde is a potent irritant even at the ppm levels. It is not very toxic, with an LD50 of 174 mg/kg (rats, oral).[4]
^Longley Jr., R. I..; Emerson, W. S.; Blardinelli, A. J. (1954). "3,4-Dihydro-2-methoxy-4-methyl-2H-pyran". Org. Synth. 34: 29. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.034.0029.