α-Cyclocitral

α-Cyclocitral is an organic compound that is used in the industrial production of lutein. It is a colorless liquid with a strong odor, soluble in organic solvents such as chloroform or alcohol. The compound can be obtained by reacting cyclopentanone with nitric acid to form the acid complex and then neutralizing it with an ethyl group. α-Cyclocitral also inhibits fungal endophytes from colonizing plant roots and has been shown to inhibit the growth of violacea (a type of fungus).