I browsed through a reference of mine [Perfume And Flavor Chemicals: (Aroma Chemicals), 2 vol. set] and I found a few compounds which would be much
more pleasant to smell than indole (although bulky substitution on the 3 position, like benzyl, seems to reduce the shit-notes of indole smells per
the above book)
One interesting target would be 3-methyl phenol or the corresponding methyl ether: these have a characteristic wood/leather aroma: "cuir de russie,"
and 1,4-diMeo 2-tBu benzene (as well as 1,3-diMeo 4-tBu benzene) apparently has a pleasant "warm, mossy-nut, root-like odor." All the tBu-phenol
compounds listed in the book share a common wood/tar element, but changing the substitution pattern does change the character. Tert-butylation of
nerolin probably will smell interesting.
If it can be made after some protection of the aldehyde, 3-tBu anisaldehyde sounds interesting enough: "powerful woody-floral aroma with considerable
tenacity." Ditto for tBu-benzaldehyde. |