Terpinene

Terpinene

Terpinene

Chemical compound


The terpinenes are a group of isomeric hydrocarbons that are classified as monoterpenes. They each have the same molecular formula and carbon framework, but they differ in the position of carbon-carbon double bonds. α-Terpinene has been isolated from cardamom and marjoram oils, and from other natural sources. β-Terpinene has no known natural source but has been prepared from sabinene. γ-Terpinene and δ-terpinene (also known as terpinolene) have been isolated from a variety of plant sources. They are all colorless liquids with a turpentine-like odor.[1]

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Production and uses

α-Terpinene is produced industrially by acid-catalyzed rearrangement of α-pinene. It has perfume and flavoring properties but is mainly used to confer pleasant odor to industrial fluids. Hydrogenation gives the saturated derivative p-menthane.[1]

Biosynthesis of α-terpinene

Biosynthetic pathway to alpha-terpinene from geranyl pyrophosphate.[2]

The biosynthesis of α-terpinene and other terpenoids starts with the isomerization of geranyl pyrophosphate to linalyl pyrophosphate (LPP). LPP then forms a resonance-stabilized cation by loss of the pyrophosphate group. Cyclization is then completed thanks to this more favorable stereochemistry of the LPP cation, yielding a terpinyl cation.[3] Finally, a 1,2-hydride shift via a Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement produces the terpinen-4-yl cation. It is the loss of a hydrogen from this cation that generates α-terpinene.

Plants that produce terpinene


References

  1. M. Eggersdorfer (2005). "Terpenes". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a26_205. ISBN 3-527-30673-0.
  2. Dewick, P. M. (2009). Medicinal Natural Products: A Biosynthetic Approach. United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 187–197.
  3. Christianson, David W. (2017). "Structural and Chemical Biology of Terpenoid Cyclases". Chemical Reviews. 117 (17): 11570–11648. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00287. PMC 5599884. PMID 28841019.
  4. Li, Rong; Zi-Tao Jiang (2004). "Chemical composition of the essential oil of Cuminum cyminum L. from China". Flavour and Fragrance Journal. 19 (4): 311–313. doi:10.1002/ffj.1302.
  5. Wang, Lu; Wang, Z; Zhang, H; Li, X; Zhang, H; et al. (2009). "Ultrasonic nebulization extraction coupled with headspace single drop microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for analysis of the essential oil in Cuminum cyminum L.". Analytica Chimica Acta. 647 (1): 72–77. Bibcode:2009AcAC..647...72W. doi:10.1016/j.aca.2009.05.030. PMID 19576388.
  6. Iacobellis, Nicola S.; Lo Cantore, P; Capasso, F; Senatore, F; et al. (2005). "Antibacterial Activity of Cuminum cyminum L. and Carum carvi L. Essential Oils". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 53 (1): 57–61. doi:10.1021/jf0487351. PMID 15631509.
  7. Hillig, Karl W (October 2004). "A chemotaxonomic analysis of terpenoid variation in Cannabis". Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 32 (10): 875–891. Bibcode:2004BioSE..32..875H. doi:10.1016/j.bse.2004.04.004. ISSN 0305-1978.
  8. Shahwar, Muhammad Khuram; El-Ghorab, Ahmed Hassan; Anjum, Faqir Muhammad; Butt, Masood Sadiq; Hussain, Shahzad; Nadeem, Muhammad (2012-07-01). "Characterization of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) Seeds and Leaves: Volatile and Non Volatile Extracts". International Journal of Food Properties. 15 (4): 736–747. doi:10.1080/10942912.2010.500068. ISSN 1094-2912.

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