Database/Emollient/Isododecane
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Isododecane natural?

No. Isododecane is a synthetic branched hydrocarbon solvent produced from petrochemical olefins by oligomerization and hydrogenation.

INCI nameIsododecane
CAS31807-55-3
FormulaC12H26 · 170.33 Da
FunctionEmollient · Solvent
FeedstockIsododecane is made by oligomerizing petrochemical light olefins…

How we scored it

C12H26 branched isoparaffin; from petrochemical olefin oligomerization + hydrogenation; no natural fragment; 0.00.
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

Acid trimerisation of isobutylene (two tert-butyl cations; diisobutylene) → triisobutylene. The film draws the key step and names the steps after it. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Isododecane is made by oligomerizing petrochemical light olefins into a branched C12 chain and hydrogenating it. No natural-feedstock route is used commercially.

In plain English

A fast-evaporating, silicone-like liquid used as a solvent in long-wear makeup, sunscreen and hair products. It is a synthetic branched hydrocarbon manufactured from petrochemical feedstocks.

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Structure

2D structure of Isododecane

2-methylundecane

PubChem CID 23459 ↗

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. 2Isododecane. PubChem CID 23459. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ISODODECANE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ISODODECANE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ISODODECANE