Database/Light Stabilizer/4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor
Mostly natural · ISO 16128

Is 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor natural?

Mostly. The camphor part is made from α-pinene in pine turpentine, a natural terpene feedstock; the 4-methylbenzylidene part comes from petrochemical toluene.

INCI name4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor
CAS36861-47-9
FormulaC18H22O · 254.4 Da
FunctionLight Stabilizer · Uv Absorber
FeedstockCamphor, made from α-pinene in pine turpentine (through…

How we scored it

Camphor part C10H14O 150.22 Da (camphor made from α-pinene in pine turpentine, natural) + 4-methylbenzylidene part C8H8 104.15 Da (from petrochemical toluene); the condensation water leaves: 150.22/254.37 = 0.59.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

How it’s made

Base-catalysed aldol condensation of camphor with p-tolualdehyde, then dehydration. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Camphor, made from α-pinene in pine turpentine (through camphene and isoborneol), is condensed with p-methylbenzaldehyde from petrochemical toluene. Natural camphor from camphor-tree wood would give the same value.

In plain English

A sunscreen ingredient that absorbs UVB light to help protect skin from sun exposure. It joins camphor, made from pine turpentine, to an aromatic compound made from petroleum, so it is partly natural origin.

CosIng definition: 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor is the aromatic organic compound that conforms to the formula:

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Structure

2D structure of 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor

(3E)-1,7,7-trimethyl-3-[(4-methylphenyl)methylidene]bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one

PubChem CID 6434217 ↗

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 24-Methylbenzylidene Camphor. PubChem CID 6434217. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 34-METHYLBENZYLIDENE CAMPHOR. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 44-METHYLBENZYLIDENE CAMPHOR. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=4-METHYLBENZYLIDENE%20CAMPHOR