3,7-Dimethylocta-2,6-Dienal

Citral is an enal that consists of octa-2,6-dienal bearing methyl substituents at positions 3 and 7. A mixture of the two geometric isomers geranial and neral, it is the major constituent (75-85%) of oil of lemon grass, the volatile oil of Cymbopogon citratus, or of C. flexuosus. It also occurs in oils of verbena, lemon, and orange. It has a role as an insecticide, a metabolite, a flavouring agent, a fragrance and an EC 1.2.3.1 (aldehyde oxidase) inhibitor. It contains a geranial and a neral.