Influence of the Chemical Structure on Odor Qualities and Odor Thresholds in Homologous Series of Alka-1,5-dien-3-ones, Alk-1-en-3-ones, Alka-1,5-dien-3-ols, and Alk-1-en-3-ols

Odor qualities and odor thresholds in air in homologous series of synthesized alk-1-en-3-ols and alka-1,5-dien-3-ols and their corresponding ketones were evaluated by gas chromatography–olfactometry. In the series of the alk-1-en-3-ols and alk-1-en-3-ones the odor quality changed successively from pungent for the compounds with five carbon atoms via metallic, vegetable-like for the six- and seven-carbon odorants to mushroom-like for the compounds with eight and nine carbon atoms. With further increase in chain length the mushroom-like impression decreased and changed to citrus-like, soapy, or herb-like. In both series, two odor threshold minima were found for the six-carbon and also for the eight- and nine-carbon odorants, respectively. In contrast to this, the odor qualities in the series of the (Z)- and (E)-alka-1,5-dien-3-ols and their corresponding ketones did not change significantly with geranium-like, metallic odors and an increasing mushroom-like odor note with increasing chain length. The lowest thresholds were found for the eight- and nine-carbon (Z)-compounds, respectively.