Companies that place Butylphenyl Methylpropional (like many fragrances included in cosmetic products) in cosmetic products, must indicate the name on the label. In this way we report a chemical component for which a maximum reccomended dose (1).

In vitro estrogenic activity has been detected and an in vivo verification is needed to ascertain the extent to which Butylphenyl Methylpropional may enter human breast tissue and be absorbed through human skin (2).

It is a component used in deodorants and antiperspirants that could cause breast tumors (3).

better known as Lilial, which is discussed to cause contact dermatitis and induces dose-dependent toxicity, a decrease of cellular ATP content, and an increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in HaCaT cells. (4)

References_________________________

(1) Preservatives and fragrances in selected consumer-available cosmetics and detergents.

Yazar K1, Johnsson S, Lind ML, Boman A, Lidén C.

Contact Dermatitis. 2011 May

(2) Charles AK, Darbre PD. Oestrogenic activity of benzyl salicylate, benzyl benzoate and butylphenylmethylpropional (Lilial) in MCF7 human breast cancer cells in vitro.

Journal of Applied Toxicology. 2009

(3) Underarm antiperspirants/deodorants and breast cancer
Philippa D Darbre
Breast Cancer Res. 2009

Murawski A, Fiedler N, Schmied-Tobies MIH, Rucic E, Schwedler G, Stoeckelhuber M, Scherer G, Pluym N, Scherer M, Kolossa-Gehring M. Metabolites of the fragrance 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde (lysmeral) in urine of children and adolescents in Germany - Human biomonitoring results of the German Environmental Survey 2014-2017 (GerES V). Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2020 Aug;229:113594. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113594. 

(4) Geppert M, Schwarz A, Stangassinger LM, Wenger S, Wienerroither LM, Ess S, Duschl A, Himly M. Interactions of TiO2 Nanoparticles with Ingredients from Modern Lifestyle Products and Their Effects on Human Skin Cells. Chem Res Toxicol. 2020 May 18;33(5):1215-1225. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.9b00428. Epub 2020 Mar 5. 

Regulation (EU) 2021/1902 banned the use of this chemical compound from 1 March 2022 in cosmetics.

What is 2-(4-terz-butilbenzil)propionaldeide or  Butylphenyl Methylpropional or Butylphenylmethylpropional or Lilial

The name describes the structure of the molecule:

• Butylphenyl is a phenyl group, a ring of 6 carbon atoms derived from benzene, to which is attached a butyl group, a chain of 4 carbon atoms.
• Methylpropional is a propional group, a chain of 3 carbon atoms to which is attached a methyl group, a single carbon atom with 3 hydrogen atoms.

The synthesis process takes place in different steps:

• Production of materials. The first step concerns the production of the starting materials, i.e. the production of butylphenol and methylpropionaldehyde. Butylphenol can be produced by alkylation of phenol with butene in the presence of an acid catalyst. Methylpropionaldehyde can be produced by hydroformylation of propene.
• Condensation reaction. Butylphenol and methylpropionaldehyde are reacted together in a condensation reaction by heating the two components together in the presence of an acid catalyst. The reaction produces butylphenyl methylpropionaldehyde and water.
• Purification. The resulting butylphenyl methylpropional is purified to remove unreacted butylphenol or methylpropionaldehyde, catalyst and any other impurities. This is generally performed by a process such as distillation or filtration.

What it is for and where

Cosmetics

Used in cosmetics, restricted ingredient  II/1666 a Relevant Item in the Annexes of the European Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009. with the following INCI functions:

Fragrance. It plays a decisive and important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it provides the possibility of enhancing, masking or adding fragrance to the final product, increasing its marketability. It is able to create a perceptible pleasant odour, masking a bad smell. The consumer always expects to find a pleasant or distinctive scent in a cosmetic product. 

Perfuming. Unlike fragrance, which can also contain slightly less pleasant or characteristic odours, the term perfume indicates only very pleasant fragrances. Used for perfumes and aromatic raw materials.

It 'a component that could give allergy for which its name must be reported on the labels of the components of the product.

Studies on Butylphenyl Methylpropional

• Molecular Formula: C₁₄H₂₀O
• Molecular Weight: 204.313 g/mol
• CAS: 80-54-6  39390-70-0  75166-25-5
• EC Number: 201-289-8
• PubChem Substance ID 329756419
• MDL number MFCD00047655
• Beilstein Registry Number 880140

Synonyms:

• Lilial
• 3-(4-(tert-Butyl)phenyl)-2-methylpropanal
• Lilyal
• lily aldehyde
• 3-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)isobutyraldehyde
• 3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methyl-propanal
• beta-3-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)isobutyraldehyde
• DSSTox_CID_6500
• p-tert-Butyl-.alpha.-methylhydrocinnamaldehyde
• .alpha.-Methyl-p-(tert-butyl)hydrocinnamaldehyde
• Hydrocinnamaldehyde, p-tert-butyl-.alpha.-methyl-
• p-tert-Butyl-.alpha.-methylhydrocinnamic aldehyde
• Propanal, .alpha.-methyl-.beta.-(p-tert.-butylphenyl)-
• .alpha.-Methyl, .beta.-(p-tert-butylphenyl)propionaldehyde
• Lilialdehyde
• Lilyaldehyde
• Propionaldehyde, .beta.-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-.alpha.-methyl-
• 3-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)-2-methylpropanal
• 3-(4-tert-Butylphenyl)-2-methylpropionaldehyde
• 3-[4-(tert-butyl)phenyl]-2-methylpropanal
• Butylphenyl methylpropional
• Benzenepropanal, 4-[1,1-dimethylethyl]-.alpha.-methyl-
• 4-tert-butyl-alpha-methylhydrocinnamaldehyde
• Benzenepropanal, 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-.alpha.-methyl-