Chloroatranol is a natural product that develops in the degradation of another natural component, atranorine, in certain species of fungi (Lethariella cladonioides), mosses (Evernia furfuracea, Evernia prunastri) and lichens ( Platismatia glauca, Cladonia rangiferina).

What it is used for and where

Cosmetics

It is a fragrance with a musky scent.

In the composition of Evernia furfuracea there are two components that have been credited with frequent episodes of sensitisation: atranol (2,6-Dihydroxy-4-methyl-benzladehyde) and chloroatranol (3-Chloro -2,6-Dihydroxy-4-methyl-benzladehyde). These two chemical compounds were banned by European Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1410 on 2 August 2017:

The most relevant studies on the subject have been selected with a summary of their contents:

Chloroatranol studies

• Molecular Formula     C₈H₇ClO₃
• Molecular Weight      186.59
• Exact Mass    186.008377
• CAS  57074-21-2
• UNII    
• EC Number   801-751-4
• DSSTox Substance ID  DTXSID90423784
• IUPAC  3-chloro-2,6-dihydroxy-4-methylbenzaldehyde
• InChl=1S/C8H7ClO3/c1-4-2-6(11)5(3-10)8(12)7(4)9/h2-3,11-12H,1H3
• InChl Key      IOTAGSGSURFFDS-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• SMILES   CC1=CC(=C(C(=C1Cl)O)C=O)O
• MDL number  MFCD06797952
• PubChem Substance ID    
• ChEBI  144135
• Beilstein       2092023

Synonyms

• 3-Chloro-2,6-dihydroxy-4-methylbenzaldehyde
• Benzaldehyde, 3-chloro-2,6-dihydroxy-4-methyl-