Hexanal, also called hexanaldehyde or caproaldehyde a six-carbon straight-chain aldehyde. As a naturally occurring bioactive volatile compound, Hexanal is found in foods ranging from olive oil to pears to Hass avocados.  It is a clear liquid，and used in the flavor industry to produce fruity flavors. 

Uses

Hexanal is a highly volatile, easily oxidized, and degraded molecule, and the use of electrospun submicro-fiber films to encapsulate hexanal enables its controlled release.

It has been found to have antimicrobial, ethylene release-slowing, and phospholipase D (PLD)-inhibiting properties.  Hexanal can effectively preserve plant cell membranes by inactivating PLD activity and expression of related genes. 

Hexanal is utilized as a flavoring agent in the food industry to prepare fruity flavors. 

It is also used in Witting and aldol reactions.