4889 Metenamine Metenamine belongs to the family of Aminals. These are organic compounds containing the aminal functional group. Metenamine is an antimicrobial food preservative, but is of limited use and usage is declining. It is used to prevent "late blowing" of hard cheese by inhibiting growth of unwanted bacteria. Presently (2002) its European use is limited to one type of Italian cheese, Provolone. It acts by releasing formaldehyde under acidic conditions. 100-97-0 4101 C6H12N4 140.19 White powder. > 250 °C 449 mg/mL at 12 °C No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC). 2014-09-11T05:18:28Z 2026-04-16T20:45:53Z 6824 DB06799 true C1N2CN3CN1CN(C2)C3 C6H12N4 InChI=1S/C6H12N4/c1-7-2-9-4-8(1)5-10(3-7)6-9/h1-6H2 VKYKSIONXSXAKP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 140.1863 140.106196404 Exogenous Solid HMDB29598 CHEMBL1201270 3959 CHEM003790 DTXSID6020692 1,3,5,7-tetraazatricyclo[3.3.1.1^{3,7}]decane