The ionones are a series of closely related chemical substances that are part of a group of compounds known as rose ketones. Ionones are aroma compounds found in a variety of essential oils, including rose oil. β -Ionone is a significant contributor to the aroma of roses, despite its relatively low concentration, and is an important fragrance chemical used in perfumery. A mixture of α- and β-ionones are prepared by the acid catalysis of pseudoionone which in turn is produced by the aldol condensation of 3,7-dimethylocta- 2,6-dienal with acetone under basic conditions. Oxidative cleavage by NaIO₄-KMnO₄ followed by treatment with NaOI followed by acidification and heating results in 3,3- dimethyladipic acid incase of α-ionone and 2,2-dimethyladipic acid incase of β-ionone (oxidize any aldehyde group if formed to acid).