Alkoxybenzaldehyde derivatives and precursors thereof

1. A method of using a compound of formula (I) as a fragrance

wherein R 1 is selected from linear or branched C 3 -, C 4 - and C 5 -alkyl and C 3 -, C 4 - and C 5 -alkenyl, the method comprising (a) mixing the compound of formula (I), or a precursor thereof, with a consumer product base, or (b) mixing a fragrance composition comprising the compound of formula (I), or a precursor thereof, with a consumer product base, (c) or entrapping the compound of formula (I) or a precursor thereof with an entrapment material and then mixing it with the consumer product base.

2. A method of using the compound of formula (I) as a fragrance

comprising the step of generating the compound of formula (I) by spontaneous air oxidation of a compound of formula (II)

wherein

R 1 selected from linear or branched C 3 -, C 4 - and C 5 -alkyl and C 3 -, C 4 - and C 5 -alkenyl;

R 2 is selected from the group consisting of

C 4 -C 14 alkyl; C 4 -C 14 alkyl substituted with one —OH group and/or up to two ether groups;

C 4 -C 14 alkenyl; C 4 -C 14 alkenyl substituted with one —OH group or an ether group;

C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; C 5 -C 8 cycloalkyl substituted with 1, 2, or 3 groups selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 2 -C 4 alkylidene;

C 5 -C 8 cycloalkenyl; C 5 -C 8 cycloalkenyl wherein the cycloalkenyl-ring is substituted with 1, 2, or 3 groups selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 2 -C 4 alkylidene, and C 3 -C 5 cycloalkyl;

(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl(C 5 -C 6 )cycloalkyl wherein the cycloalkyl-ring is optionally substituted with one group selected from —OH group and ═O group, and/or one or two ether group(s), and/or up to four C 1 -C 5 alkyl groups;

(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl(C 5 -C 6 )cycloalkenyl wherein the cycloalkenyl-ring is optionally substituted with one —OH group, and/or one or two ether group(s), and/or up to four C 1 -C 5 alkyl groups;

(C 2 -C 3 )alkenyl(C 5 -C 6 )cycloalkenyl wherein the cycloalkenyl-ring is optionally substituted with one —OH group, and/or one or two ether group(s), and/or up to four C 1 -C 5 alkyl groups;

(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl(C 6 -C 14 )aryl; (C 1 -C 4 )alkyl(C 6 -C 14 )aryl wherein the aryl-ring is substituted with up to 2 groups selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl, —O—CH 2 —O—, and

—OR 12 wherein R 12 is independently selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

(C 2 -C 8 )alkenyl(C 6 -C 14 )aryl; (C 2 -C 8 )alkenyl(C 6 -C 14 )aryl wherein the aryl-ring is substituted with up to 2 groups selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl, —O—CH 2 —O—, and

—OR 13 wherein R 13 is independently selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

bi-, tri, or tetracyclic hydrocarbon ring comprising C 8 -C 12 carbon atoms optionally substituted with up to 6 groups selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl, —O—CH 2 —O—,

and —OR 14 wherein R 14 is independently selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 4 alkyl; and

R 3 is selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 5 alkyl, and C 2 -C 5 alkenyl.

3. A compound of formula (II)

wherein

R 1 selected from linear or branched C 3 -, C 4 - and C 5 -alkyl and C 3 -, C 4 - and C 5 -alkenyl;

R 2 is selected from the group consisting of C 4 -C 14 alkyl; C 4 -C 14 alkyl substituted with one —OH group and/or up to two ether groups;

C 4 -C 14 alkenyl; C 4 -C 14 alkenyl substituted with one —OH group or an ether group;

C 5 -C 6 cycloalkyl; C 5 -C 8 cycloalkyl substituted with 1, 2, or 3 groups selected from C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 2 -C 4 alkylidene;

C 5 -C 8 cycloalkenyl; C 5 -C 8 cycloalkenyl wherein the cycloalkenyl-ring is substituted with 1, 2, or 3 groups selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl, C 2 -C 4 alkylidene, and C 3 -C 5 cycloalkyl;

(C 1 -C 3 )alkyl(C 5 -C 6 )cycloalkyl wherein the cycloalkyl-ring is optionally substituted with one group selected from —OH group and ═O group, and/or one or two ether group(s), and/or up to four C 1 -C 5 alkyl groups;

(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl(C 5 -C 6 )cycloalkenyl wherein the cycloalkenyl-ring is optionally substituted with one —OH group, and/or one or two ether group(s), and/or up to four C 1 -C 5 alkyl groups;

(C 2 -C 3 )alkenyl(C 5 -C 6 )cycloalkenyl wherein the cycloalkenyl-ring is optionally substituted with one —OH group, and/or one or two ether group(s), and/or up to four C 1 -C 5 alkyl groups;

(C 1 -C 4 )alkyl(C 6 -C 14 )aryl; (C 1 -C 4 )alkyl(C 6 -C 14 )aryl wherein the aryl-ring is substituted with up to 2 groups selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl, —O—CH 2 —O—, and —OR 12 wherein R 12 is independently selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

(C 2 -C 8 )alkenyl(C 6 -C 14 )aryl; (C 2 -C 8 )alkenyl(C 6 -C 14 )aryl wherein the aryl-ring is substituted with up to 2 groups selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl, —O—CH 2 —O—, and —OR 13 wherein R 13 is independently selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 4 alkyl;

bi-, tri, or tetracyclic hydrocarbon ring comprising C 8 -C 12 carbon atoms optionally substituted with up to 6 groups selected from C 1 -C 4 alkyl, —O—CH 2 —O—, and —OR 14 wherein R 14 is independently selected from hydrogen and C 1 -C 4 alkyl; and

R 3 is selected from hydrogen, C 1 -C 5 alkyl, and C 2 -C 5 alkenyl.

4. The compound according to claim 3 selected from

1-butoxy-3-((1E,4Z)-hepta-1,4-dien-1-yl)benzene;

1-butoxy-3-((1E,7Z)-deca-1,7-dien-1-yl)benzene;

1-(4-(3-butoxyphenyl)but-3-en-1-yl)-4-isobutyl-2-methylbenzene;

1-(4-(3-butoxyphenyl)but-3-en-1-yl)-2-isobutyl-4-methylbenzene;

1-(sec-butoxy)-3-((1E,4Z)-hepta-1,4-dien-1-yl)benzene;

1-((1E,4Z)-hepta-1,4-dien-1-yl)-3-(pentyloxy)benzene;

1-((1E,4Z)-hepta-1,4-dien-1-yl)-3-((2-methylallyl)oxy)benzene;

1-((1E,4Z)-hepta-1,4-dien-1-yl)-3-isopropoxybenzene;

1-butoxy-3-(4-(4-(tert-butyl)phenyl)but-1-en-1-yl)benzene;

1-butoxy-3-(4-(4-(tert-butyl)phenyl)-3-methylbut-1-en-1-yl)benzene;

1-butoxy-3-(4-(3-isopropylphenyl)pent-1-en-1-yl)benzene;

11-(3-butoxyphenyl)-2,6-dimethylundeca-6,10-dien-2-ol;

1-butoxy-3-(3-methyldodec-1-en-1-yl)benzene;

5-(4-(3-butoxyphenyl)-2-methylbut-3-en-1-yl)benzo[d][1,3]dioxole;

1-butoxy-3-(tetradeca-1,3-dien-1-yl)benzene;

1-butoxy-3-(3-phenylprop-1-en-1-yl)benzene;

1-butoxy-3-((5E)-undeca-1,5-dien-1-yl)benzene;

5-(5-(3-butoxyphenyl)pent-4-en-1-ylidene)octahydro-1H-4,7-methanoindene;

1-butoxy-3-(4-(4-ethylphenyl)-3,3-dimethylbut-1-en-1-yl)benzene;

1-butoxy-3-(7-methoxy-3,7-dimethylnon-1-en-1-yl)benzene; and

1-butoxy-3-(4-(4-isobutylphenyl)but-1-en-1-yl)benzene.

5. A method of fragrancing a consumer product, comprising adding to a consumer product base a compound of formula (I) as defined in claim 1 , or precursor thereof.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the precursor of the compound of formula (I) is a compound of formula (II) as defined in claim 3 .

7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the compound of formula (I) is generated by spontaneous air oxidation of a compound of formula (II) as defined in claim 3 when exposed to oxygen.

8. A consumer product comprising a compound of formula (I) as defined in claim 1 , or a precursor thereof and a consumer product base.

9. The consumer product according to claim 8 wherein the consumer product is selected from home care products, personal care products and cleaning products.

10. A consumer product comprising a compound of formula (II) as defined in claim 2 and a consumer product base.

11. A consumer product comprising a compound of formula (II) as defined in claim 3 and a consumer product base.

12. The consumer product according to claim 10 , wherein the consumer product is selected from home care products, personal care products and cleaning products.

13. The consumer product according to claim 11 , wherein the consumer product is selected from home care products, personal care products and cleaning products.

14. A fragrance composition comprising a compound of formula (I) or a precursor thereof:

wherein R 1 is selected from linear or branched C 3 -, C 4 - and C 5 -alkyl and C 3 -, C 4 - and C 5 -alkenyl.