• CSIR - Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute
  • G20
Organic chemicals including pharmaceuticals

Title of Process/ Know-how/ Product/Design/Equipment

Technology for the production α-hexyl cinnamaldehyde via green catalytic route

  • IPR
    IPR Status & Details:
  • IN 201611009896
Application/Uses/Problem being addressed

α-Hexyl cinnamaldehyde is found naturally in the essential oil of chamomile. It is an aroma substance and a common additive in perfume and cosmetic industry. Traditionally it is manufactured from the reaction of benzaldehyde and n-octanal in presence of alkali metal hydroxide as a catalyst.

Limitations of the existing process:

  • Corrosive nature of strong base
  • Separation difficulties
  • Environmental challenges

    • Advantages of the catalytic process:

  • Solvent free condition
  • Low catalyst loading
  • Heterogeneous system
    • Salient Technical Features including Competing Features/ Impact

    The process for preparation of -hexyl cinnamaldehyde involves catalytic cross aldol condensation between benzaldehyde and 1-octanal using a soft solid base catalyst, hydrotalcite

  • Good conversion (>99%) and selectivity (95-98%) are achievable using heterogeneous catalyst.
  • Solvent free reaction condition
  • Organic or inorganic bases are not required for the preparation in the present process
  • Shorter reaction time that makes the process industrially attractive
  • Catalyst can be recovered by simple filtration after completion of reaction and effectively recycled several times (tested more than ten cycles) without any significant loss in activity and selectivity
    • TRL Level & Scale of Development:
    TRL 4

    Scaled at 200 g with 99% conversion and >95% selectivity

    Business scope & opportunity (in terms of scale, cost, market etc.):

    Being a perfumery chemical, -hexyl cinnamaldehyde has potential market scope; One of the important perfumery chemicals used in Indian industry which is currently to a large extent imported from China

    Environmental Considerations:

    The process for -hexyl cinnamaldehyde works in solvent-free condition making the process environmentally benign; Uses heterogeneous solid catalyst; no aqueous effluent generation

    Status of Licensing:
    Licensed technology
    Status of Commercialization:
    Not applicable
    Major Raw Materials Needed

    Benzaldehyde, n-octanal and hydrotalcite

    Major Plant Equipment and Machinery Required

    Reactor size depending upon plant capacity, distillation unit

    Techno-Economics

    Techno-economically attractive as the product cost is roughly twice that of raw materials cost

    Technology Package

    Process know-how for -hexyl cinnamaldehyde; Demonstration of the process at 500 g scale; License fee, royalty and other financial details are available on request.