Ectocarpene is the rearrangement product of pre-ectocarpene,[1] the sexual attractant, or pheromone, found with several species of brown algae (Phaeophyceae).

This confusion arises from the sigmatropic rearrangement (and thus deactivation) of pre-ectocarpene in minutes at room temperature:[3] This is as to only have the phermon active in the proximity of the female gametes.

Its relatively low but influential presence helps develop the Capsicum fruit’s profile.

[4] (E)-Ectocarpene is a product associated to a group referred to as Bryophytes, a family of liverworts, algae, and other species with medicinal and nutritional properties.

It is suggested that (E)-ectocarpene may have an evolutionary relationship between families of liverworts and algae as its concentration of formation varies based on the species’ environmental conditions.