Ketones of Six to Thirteen Carbons

Ketones of carbon number 6–13 are important commercial and industrial materials. Their primary use is as solvents in numerous products and industrial applications. Owing to their volatility, environmental regulations have been directed at restricting emissions, particularly to the atmosphere. A number of the ketones discussed in this chapter not only can undergo photochemical transformations that contribute to their abiotic degradation but also may contribute to the formation of smog. Regulations limiting or prohibiting release of materials that may contribute to smog formation are leading to reductions in the use of some of these materials. As for the short-chain ketones discussed in Chapter 53, the ketones covered in this chapter are of concern mainly due to inhalation and dermal exposure routes. Acute exposure to high vapor concentrations of these materials may result in narcosis; however, such exposures are rare except in cases of accidents. Low levels of exposure to many of these ketones can be expected in the environment and through endogenous exposure because ketones are common substrates for many of the enzymes associated with intermediary metabolism in organisms from bacteria to man. Keywords: neurotoxicity; methyl-n-butyl ketone; structure–activity relationships; methyl isobutyl ketone; mesityl oxide; 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone; 2,5-hexanedione; cyclohexanol; methyl-n-amyl ketone; methyl isoamyl ketone; ethyl-n-butyl ketone; di-n-propyl ketone; diisopropyl ketone; 2-methylcyclohexanone; acetophenone; 2-octanone; 5-methyl-3-heptanone; propiophenone; isophorone; 5-nonanone; diisobutyl ketone; trimethyl nonanone; benzophenone; diacetyl; 2,3-pentanedione; 2,3-hexanedione