Androstenone

Androstenone

Names
IUPAC name (5S,8R,9S,10S,13R,14S)-10,13-Dimethyl-1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15-dodecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one<
Other names 5α-Androst-16-en-3-one
Identifiers
CAS Number	18339-16-7 Y
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:37894 Y
ChemSpider	5254715 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.038.367
PubChem CID	6852393
InChI InChI=1S/C19H28O/c1-18-9-3-4-16(18)15-6-5-13-12-14(20)7-11-19(13,2)17(15)8-10-18/h3,9,13,15-17H,4-8,10-12H2,1-2H3/t13-,15-,16-,17-,18-,19-/m0/s1 Y Key: HFVMLYAGWXSTQI-QYXZOKGRSA-N Y InChI=1/C19H28O/c1-18-9-3-4-16(18)15-6-5-13-12-14(20)7-11-19(13,2)17(15)8-10-18/h3,9,13,15-17H,4-8,10-12H2,1-2H3/t13-,15-,16-,17-,18-,19-/m0/s1 Key: HFVMLYAGWXSTQI-QYXZOKGRBP
SMILES O=C4C[C@@H]3CC[C@@H]2[C@H](CC[C@@]1(/C=C\C[C@H]12)C)[C@@]3(C)CC4
Properties
Chemical formula	C19H28O
Molar mass	272.43 g·mol−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N  (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Androstenone (5α-androst-16-en-3-one) is a steroid-like pheromone. It is found in boar's saliva, celery cytoplasm, and truffle fungus. Androstenone was the first mammalian pheromone to be identified. It is found in high concentrations in the saliva of male pigs, and, when inhaled by a female pig that is in heat, results in the female assuming the mating stance. Androstenone is the active ingredient in 'Boarmate', a commercial product made by DuPont sold to pig farmers to test sows for timing of artificial insemination.

Androstenone is synthesized from androstadienone by 5α-reductase, and can be converted into 3α-androstenol or 3β-androstenol by 3-ketosteroid reductase.

Depending upon the subject, it is reported to be an unpleasant, sweaty, urinous smell, a woody smell, or even a pleasant floral smell.

There are two different genotypes that allow an individual to smell androstenone. The first genotype, which consists of two fully functional copies of the gene, is the RT/RT allele, and the second is the RT/WM allele. The OR7D4 receptor has two non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms, which cause the gene to have two amino acid substitutions, which in turn cause the receptor to act differently. Those in possession of the two proper genes, (RT/RT) for OR7D4 tend to describe the odor for the steroid as the odor of stale urine. Those with only one gene (RT/WM) typically described the odor as weak or were not able to detect it. They can also find the smell 'pleasant', 'sweet' or 'similar to vanilla'.