6-Methyl-2-cyclohexenone-1 (also known as 6-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one, CAS 93842-53-6) is a versatile α,β-unsaturated ketone used primarily as a synthetic intermediate and cyclic scaffold: a competent Michael acceptor for forming C–C, C–N, and C–S bonds and diversifying functionality, an effective dienophile for Diels–Alder chemistry, and a participant in Robinson annulations to build bicyclic, terpenoid, and steroidal motifs; it is widely employed as a model substrate in catalysis studies (organometallic methods, organocatalysis, asymmetric hydrogenation, photocatalysis) to benchmark reactivity and selectivity; in fragrance and flavor R&D it serves as a cyclohexenone building block/precursor to fine-tune green, woody, tea-like, or fruity notes and as feedstock for selective transformations such as reductions, hydrogenations, epoxidations, halogenations, and aminations to access related odorants; in pharmaceutical and agrochemical discovery the C6-methyl enone is used as a central scaffold or electrophilic handle for conjugate attachment in probe/covalent chemotypes and as a precursor to embed a 6-methyl motif into functionalized cyclohexanones; additionally, its enone unit is exploited at lab scale for polymer/gel modification via thiol-Michael and related conjugate reactions.
