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Cadaverine is a poisonous, syrupy, colorless chemical compound with the formula C5H14N2. It is formed through the decarboxylation of lysine, particularly during the putrefaction of flesh.1

This compound is a type of amine, which are known for their distinct odors, ranging from fishy to putrid, especially in lower-molecular-weight forms. Cadaverine, along with putrescine, is a foul-smelling compound found in decaying flesh. Amines with fewer than six carbon atoms are miscible with water in all proportions.2

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