| Description | 2-Oxohexane, also known as hexan-2-one or MNBK, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as ketones. These are organic compounds in which a carbonyl group is bonded to two carbon atoms R2C=O (neither R may be a hydrogen atom). Ketones that have one or more alpha-hydrogen atoms undergo keto-enol tautomerization, the tautomer being an enol. Thus, 2-oxohexane is considered to be an oxygenated hydrocarbon lipid molecule. 2-Oxohexane is a very hydrophobic molecule, practically insoluble in water, and relatively neutral. 2-Oxohexane is an gasoline tasting compound. 2-Oxohexane is found, on average, in the highest concentration within a few different foods, such as hyssops, milk (cow), and corns. 2-Oxohexane has also been detected, but not quantified, in several different foods, such as green bell peppers, orange bell peppers, red bell peppers, nuts, and peppers. This could make 2-oxohexane a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. 2-Oxohexane is a potentially toxic compound. 2-Oxohexane, with regard to humans, has been found to be associated with several diseases such as ulcerative colitis, crohn's disease, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; 2-oxohexane has also been linked to the inborn metabolic disorder celiac disease. 2-Oxohexane is absorbed via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal routes, then distributed widely throughout the body, with the highest levels in the liver and blood. The main neurological disorders associated with chronic volatile substance are peripheral neuropathy, cerebellar disease, chronic encephalopathy and dementia. This may include pathologies such as peripheral neuropathy and developmental defects. Apart from peripheral neuropathy, the clinical features are non-specific, evidence for solvent-related toxicity is in most cases circumstantial and there is no clear dose/response relationship. 2-Oxohexane is occasionally found as a volatile component of normal human biofluids. In addition, 2,5-hexanedione can covalently cross-link neurofilaments, causing large axonal swellings. 2-Oxohexane and 2,5-hexanedione may also inhibit sulfhydryl-dependent enzymes such as fructose-6-phosphate kinase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, as well as certain creatine kinases and adenylate kinases, impairing energy metabolism and subsequently resulting in axon deterioration. |
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