1-Octen-3-ol, octenol for short and also known as mushroom alcohol,[1] is a chemical that attracts biting insects such as mosquitoes. It is contained in human breath and sweat, and it is believed that insect repellentDEET works by blocking the insects' octenol odorantreceptors.[2][3][4]
The name “mushroom Alcohol” for 1-octen-3-ol comes from it first isolation by Murahashi in 1936 and 1938 from crushed matsutake mushrooms. [5][6]A recent study on volatiles of this mushroom has shown this compound is only produced upon tissue disruption.[7]
This alcohol is found in many other mushrooms where it may play a role as an antifeedant.[8]
Biochemically, 1-octen-3-ol is generated from the peroxidation of linoleic acid, catalyzed by a lipoxygenase, followed by cleavage of the resulting hydroperoxide with the help of a hydroperoxide lyase. This reaction takes place in cheese and is used in biotechnology to produce the (R)-isomer.[12][13]
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