title: Geranylacetone
text: # Geranylacetone
  
  Geranylacetone is an organic compound with the formula $CH_3C(O)(CH_2)_2CH=C(CH_3)(CH_2)_2CH=C(CH_3)_2.$ A colorless oil, it is the product of coupling geranyl and acetonyl groups. It is a precursor to synthetic squalene.
  
  ## Synthesis and occurrence
  
  Geranylacetone can be produced by transesterification of ethyl acetoacetate with linalool:
  
      $EtOC(O)CH_2C(O)CH_3$ + $C_{10}H_{17}OH$ → $C_{10}H_{17}OC(O)CH_2C(O)CH_3$ + EtOH
  
  The esterification of linalool can also be effected with ketene or isopropenyl methyl ether. The resulting linalyl ester undergoes Carroll rearrangement to give geranylacetone. Geranyl acetone is a precursor to isophytol, which is used in the manufacture of Vitamin E. Other derivatives of geranyl acetone are farnesol and nerolidol.
  
  Geranylacetone is a flavor component of many plants including rice, mango, and tomatoes.
  
  Together with other ketones, geranylacetone results from the degradation of vegetable matter by ozone.
  
  ## Biosynthesis
  
  It arises by the oxidation of certain carotenoids. Such reaction are catalyzed by carotenoid oxygenase.
  
  