AROMATIC COMPOUNDS: CINNAMALDEHYDE

Aromatic compounds are an essential part of our society. They are found in:

• all forms of pain relief medication (e.g. paracetamol, aspirin, ibuprofen);

• vanillin and cinnamaldehyde, which are used as flavourings and in perfume fragrances;

• kevlar: a high-performance polymer material used in protective clothing.

This piece is essentially about cinnamaldehyde that gives cinnamon its flavour and odour. It occurs naturally in the bark of cinnamon trees. The cinnamaldehyde is shown drawn as a 'ring' around the bark where it occurs naturally!