Database/Solvent/Octyldodecyl Methoxycrylene
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Octyldodecyl Methoxycrylene natural?

It depends. The aromatic UV-absorbing acid part is petrochemical; the octyldodecyl alcohol part can come from plant-derived or petrochemical decanol, so the value depends on the supplier (Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, with a petrochemical alcohol, scores 0).

INCI nameOctyldodecyl Methoxycrylene
CAS1558950-52-9
FunctionSolvent
FeedstockDominant route: esterification of oleochemical 2-octyldodecanol with the…

Why the score varies

This ingredient is made commercially by more than one route, and ISO 16128 scores the feedstock actually used. Without a supplier certificate of origin the value cannot be claimed.

RouteFeedstockNOIShareNotes
Oleochemical octyldodecanol2-Octyldodecanol from coconut or palm kernel decanol; methoxycrylene acid from methoxybenzophenone and cyanoacetate0.53not published
Synthetic decanol2-Octyldodecanol from Ziegler or oxo decanol; methoxycrylene acid as above0.00not published
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

C37H53NO3 559.8 Da: 2-octyldodecyloxy C20H41O 297.5 Da (natural only from oleochemical decanol); methoxycrylene acyl C17H12NO2 262.3 Da petrochemical. Oleochemical route 297.5 / 559.8 = 0.53; synthetic decanol route 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.

Where it comes from

Dominant route: esterification of oleochemical 2-octyldodecanol with the petrochemical methoxycrylene acid (Knoevenagel product of methoxybenzophenone and cyanoacetate). Ziegler-derived octyldodecanol also exists and would lower the value to 0.0, so a supplier note is needed; structure inferred from the INCI name as no description was supplied.

In plain English

A heavy, oily ester used as a solvent for other ingredients, especially in sunscreen-type products. The oily alcohol part comes from coconut or palm-derived fatty alcohol; the aromatic acid part is made from petroleum chemicals.

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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. 2OCTYLDODECYL METHOXYCRYLENE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3OCTYLDODECYL METHOXYCRYLENE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=OCTYLDODECYL%20METHOXYCRYLENE