Aldehydes

2-Propyl valeraldehyde is a solvent that is used in pharmaceutical preparations and has been shown to inhibit the activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase, an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of alcohols and aldehydes. 2-Propyl valeraldehyde also inhibits the formation of carboxylic acids by competitive inhibition with metal ions such as zinc. The deuterium isotope effect has been used to show that 2-propyl valeraldehyde is metabolized by deuterium exchange. Mass spectrometric detection has shown that this compound contains a carbonyl group (C=O). This compound can be used as an intermediate in organic synthesis reactions, but it also has convulsant effects.

Benzaldehyde semicarbazone is a hydrogen bond acceptor and donor, which can be used for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals. It is also known to have significant biological activity, including anticonvulsant activity. Benzaldehyde semicarbazone has been shown to be an inhibitor of pyrazole ring formation in the reaction between 4-chlorobenzaldehyde oxime and hydrochloric acid. This inhibition may be due to its ability to act as a hydrogen bond acceptor, forming hydrogen bonds with both the carbonyl group of 4-chlorobenzaldehyde oxime and the protonated chloride ion. The mechanism is supported by kinetic studies which show that benzaldehyde semicarbazone has a much lower activation energy than the other reactants involved in the reaction.