Anisaldehyde
Encyclopedia
Anisaldehyde, or anisic aldehyde, is an organic compound
that consists of a benzene ring substituted with an aldehyde
and a methoxy
group. It is a clear colorless liquid with a strong aroma. It comes in 3 varieties, ortho, meta, and para in which the two functional groups (methoxy and aldehyde) are alpha, beta, and gamma, respectively to each other. The unmodified term anisaldehyde generally refers to the para isomer.
Anisaldehyde is found in anise
, from which it gets its name. It is similar in structure to vanillin
.
Anisaldehyde is used as an intermediate in the synthesis of other compounds important in pharmaceuticals and perfumery, particularly ortho-anisaldehyde, which has a scent of licorice.
A solution of para-anisaldehyde in acid and ethanol is frequently used to stain thin layer chromatography
plates. It is a particularly useful stain because different spots on the plate can be stained different colors allowing easy distinction.
Organic compound
An organic compound is any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. For historical reasons discussed below, a few types of carbon-containing compounds such as carbides, carbonates, simple oxides of carbon, and cyanides, as well as the...
that consists of a benzene ring substituted with an aldehyde
Aldehyde
An aldehyde is an organic compound containing a formyl group. This functional group, with the structure R-CHO, consists of a carbonyl center bonded to hydrogen and an R group....
and a methoxy
Methoxy
In chemistry , methoxy refers to the functional group consisting of a methyl group bound to oxygen. This alkoxy group has the formula O–CH3.The word is used in organic nomenclature usually to describe an ether...
group. It is a clear colorless liquid with a strong aroma. It comes in 3 varieties, ortho, meta, and para in which the two functional groups (methoxy and aldehyde) are alpha, beta, and gamma, respectively to each other. The unmodified term anisaldehyde generally refers to the para isomer.
Anisaldehyde is found in anise
Anise
Anise , Pimpinella anisum, also called aniseed, is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to the eastern Mediterranean region and Southwest Asia. Its flavor resembles that of liquorice, fennel, and tarragon.- Biology :...
, from which it gets its name. It is similar in structure to vanillin
Vanillin
Vanillin is a phenolic aldehyde, an organic compound with the molecular formula C8H8O3. Its functional groups include aldehyde, ether, and phenol. It is the primary component of the extract of the vanilla bean. It is also found in Leptotes bicolor, roasted coffee and the Chinese red pine...
.
Anisaldehyde is used as an intermediate in the synthesis of other compounds important in pharmaceuticals and perfumery, particularly ortho-anisaldehyde, which has a scent of licorice.
A solution of para-anisaldehyde in acid and ethanol is frequently used to stain thin layer chromatography
Thin layer chromatography
Thin layer chromatography is a chromatography technique used to separate mixtures. Thin layer chromatography is performed on a sheet of glass, plastic, or aluminum foil, which is coated with a thin layer of adsorbent material, usually silica gel, aluminium oxide, or cellulose...
plates. It is a particularly useful stain because different spots on the plate can be stained different colors allowing easy distinction.