Hydroxyacetone

Hydroxyacetone, also known as acetol, is an organic chemical consisting of a primary alcohol substituent on acetone. It is an α-hydroxyketone, also called a ketol, and is the simplest hydroxy ketone structure.

Hydryoxyacetone can be produced by degradation of various sugars. In foods, it is formed by the Maillard reaction, and can react further to form other compounds with various aromas. As such if finds some use as a flavoring.