4-Heptanone is an organic ketone containing seven carbon atoms. It can be found in urine samples of human being. It arises from in vivo beta-oxidation of 2-ethylhexanoic acid (EHA) from plasticisers, which is similar to the formation of 3-heptanone from valproic acid. It is mainly used as the solvents of nitrocellulose, nitrocellulose paint and synthetic resin and as the raw materials of organic synthesis. It can also be used as a internal standard of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the analysis of 3-monochloro-1, 2-propane diol which is a potential carcinogen found in soy sauce. It can be synthesized during the reaction of 1-butanol over base catalysts such as MgO.
