Monoterpenals

A dicyclic monoterpene, the ( + )-form of which is found in oil of savin and many other essentia oils. The (—)- and racemic forms occur occasionally in nature. 

The product of this reaction is geranyl pyrophosphate Hydrolysis of the pyrophosphate ester group gives geramol a naturally occurring monoterpene found m rose oil... 

The enzyme catalyzed reactions that lead to geraniol and farnesol (as their pyrophosphate esters) are mechanistically related to the acid catalyzed dimerization of alkenes discussed m Section 6 21 The reaction of an allylic pyrophosphate or a carbo cation with a source of rr electrons is a recurring theme m terpene biosynthesis and is invoked to explain the origin of more complicated structural types Consider for exam pie the formation of cyclic monoterpenes Neryl pyrophosphate formed by an enzyme catalyzed isomerization of the E double bond m geranyl pyrophosphate has the proper geometry to form a six membered ring via intramolecular attack of the double bond on the allylic pyrophosphate unit... 

The same tertiary carbocation serves as the precursor to numerous bicyclic monoterpenes A carbocation having a bicychc skeleton is formed by intramolecular attack of the rr electrons of the double bond on the positively charged carbon... 

This bicychc carbocation then undergoes many reactions typical of carbocation inter mediates to provide a variety of bicychc monoterpenes as outlined m Figure 26 7... 

The structure of the bicychc monoterpene borneol is shown in Figure 26 7 Isoborneol a stereoisomer of borneol can be prepared in the labora tory by a two step sequence In the first step borneol is oxidized to camphor by treatment with chromic acid In the second step camphor is reduced with sodium borohydride to a mixture of 85% isoborneol and 15% borneol On the basis of these transformations deduce structural formulas for isoborneol and camphor... 

Sabinene is a monoterpene found in the oil of citrus fruits and plants It has been synthe sized from 6 methyl 2 5 heptanedione by the sequence that follows Suggest reagents suitable for carrying out each of the indicated transformations... 

Terpenes, specifically monoterpenes, are naturally occurring monomers that are usually obtained as by-products of the paper and citms industries. Monoterpenes that are typically employed in hydrocarbon resins are shown in Figure 2. Optically active tf-limonene is obtained from various natural oils, particularly citms oils (81). a and P-pinenes are obtained from sulfate turpentine produced in the kraft (sulfate) pulping process. Southeastern U.S. sulfate turpentine contains approximately 60—70 wt % a-pinene and 20—25 wt % P-pinene (see Terpenoids). Dipentene, which is a complex mixture of if,/-Hmonene, a- and P-pheUandrene, a- and y-terpinene, and terpinolene, is also obtained from the processing of sulfate Hquor (82). 

Experimental procedures have been described in which the desired reactions have been carried out either by whole microbial cells or by enzymes (1—3). These involve carbohydrates (qv) (4,5) steroids (qv), sterols, and bile acids (6—11) nonsteroid cycHc compounds (12) ahcycHc and alkane hydroxylations (13—16) alkaloids (7,17,18) various pharmaceuticals (qv) (19—21), including antibiotics (19—24) and miscellaneous natural products (25—27). Reviews of the microbial oxidation of aUphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons (qv) (28), monoterpenes (29,30), pesticides (qv) (31,32), lignin (qv) (33,34), flavors and fragrances (35), and other organic molecules (8,12,36,37) have been pubflshed (see Enzyp applications, industrial Enzyt s in organic synthesis Elavors AND spices). 

Table 2. Properties of Selected Monoterpene Hydrocarbons and Ethers...

The sesquiterpenes found in essential oils have low volatilities compared with monoterpenes and so are isolated mainly by steam distillation or extraction, but some are also isolated by distillation or crystallization. Most of the sesquiterpene alcohols are heavy viscous Hquids and many crystallize when they are of high enough purity. Sesquiterpene alcohols are important in perfume bases for their odor value and their fixative properties as well. They are valuable as carriers of woody, balsamic, or heavy oriental perfume notes. 

One method of synthesis of taxol analogues starts with a-pinene (8), the readily available and inexpensive monoterpene derived from the processing of turpentine from the pine tree (200). The a-pinene is oxidized to verbenone, which is then alkylated and converted to taxol analogues in a multistep process. 

Another monoterpene used as a starting material for taxol analogues is camphor (43), which is readily available naturally or can be produced synthetically (201,202). Total synthesis of taxol analogues may be the answer toward finding new compounds for the treatment of many types of cancer. 

W. F. Erman, Studies in Organic Chemisty, Vol. 11, Chemistry of the Monoterpenes An Emyclopedic Handbook, Marcel Decker, New York, 1985. 

Wood is the raw material of the naval stores iadustry (77). Naval stores, so named because of their importance to the wooden ships of past centuries, consist of rosin (diterpene resin acids), turpentine (monoterpene hydrocarbons), and associated chemicals derived from pine (see Terpenoids). These were obtained by wounding the tree to yield pine gum, but the high labor costs have substantially reduced this production in the United States. Another source of rosin and turpentine is through extraction of old pine stumps, but this is a nonrenewable resource and this iadustry is in decline. The most important source of naval stores is spent sulfate pulpiag Hquors from kraft pulpiag of pine. In 1995, U.S. production of rosin from all sources was estimated at under 300,000 metric tons and of turpentine at 70,000 metric tons. Distillation of tall oil provides, in addition to rosin, nearly 128,000 metric tons of tall oil fatty acids annually (78). 

Elimination of water with the aid of sulfunc acid [9 14] and formation of the corresponding monoterpene hydrocarbons... 

In situ quantitation The fluorimetric analysis of monoterpene glucosides could be performed with advantage at 2exc = 313 nm and 2 > 390 nm. The detection limits of arbutin and L-menthylglucoside were 1 — 5 ng and 15 ng substance per chromatogram respectively (Fig. 1). 

Terpenes (Section 26.7) Compounds that can be analyzed as clusters of isoprene units. Terpenes with 10 carbons are classified as monoterpenes, those with 15 are sesquiterpenes, those with 20 are diterpenes, and those with 30 are triterpenes. 

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