Citral is widely distributed and occurs to the extent of 70 to 80 percent in lemongrass oil.


Isolation

              The essential oil containing citral is treated With sodium bisulphite solution,when crystalline citral bisulphite derivative is obtained. This derivative is then hydrolyzed with sodium carbonate to give pure citral.

  • Molecular Formula: C₁₀H₁₆O (monoterpene aldehyde).
  • Isomers:
    • Geranial (trans-citral, E-isomer) – Strong lemon odor.
    • Neral (cis-citral, Z-isomer) – Milder, sweeter aroma.
  • Functional Group: α,β-unsaturated aldehyde (reactive site).
  • Spectroscopic Data:
    • IR: Strong peak at ~1680 cm⁻¹ (C=O stretch).
    • NMR: Characteristic aldehydic proton at ~9-10 ppm.
  • Citral react with hydroxylamine to form an Oxime.
  • Citral reacts with bromine to form a tetrabromide dederivative.

              This indicated the presence of two C-C double bonds in the citral.

  • Citral undergoes hydrolysis with potassium carbonate to give 2-methyl-2-hepten-6-one(Methylheptenone) and acetaldehyde.
  • When citral is heated with potassium bisulphate,it is convert to P-cymene.

Citral can be synthesis form 2-methyl-2-hepten-6-oneby the following three steps.

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