Monocyclic monoterpenes

The aerobic degradation of cycloalkanes has been examined in both monocyclic and polycyclic snb-strates. In all of them, monooxygenation is the first step and this is sometimes accomplished by cytochrome P450 systems. Reviews of the degradation of alicyclic componnds inclnding monoterpenes... 

The factors that influence the diastereoselectivity for the class of monocyclic hydrocarbons, from which monoterpenes are the most studied group, are mainly steric and conformational. Monoterpenes, in general, show relatively low overall syn/anti selectivity, usually attributed to the availability of allylic hydrogen atoms in the right alignment for abstraction. 

Monoterpenes are formed from two attached isoprene 3 units 2,6-dimethyloc-tane as the simplest skeleton. Thus, they can be acyclic or linear like -myrcene 4, ( )-/l-ocimene 5, (Z)-/l-ocimene 6, and allo-ocimene 7 (Structure 4.3). Or they can be cyclic, meaning ring-forming, such as in the simplest form like p-menthane 8 or p-cymene 9. Monocyclic 8, 9, bicyclic (5-3-carene 10 and tricyclic tricyclene 11 type monoterpenes are found in essential oils [1-4, 6-14, 16-23,38,39, 42, 47, 48]. 

Sesquiterpenes are formed by the addition of one more isoprene units to a monoterpene molecule, and thus have the molecular formula C15H24 (see also Fig. 4.2). There are linear, branched or cyclic sesquiterpenes. Sesquiterpenes are unsaturated compounds. Cyclic sesquiterpenes may be monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic. They are the most diverse group among the volatile terpenoids [2, 3, 7-11, 13,14, 16, 20-24, 37-39, 49]. The DNP treats sesquiterpenoids in 147 different structural types [37]. Various types of sesquiterpenes (69-109) can also be seen in Structure 4.16. 

In the weevil Pissodes notatus (Goleoptera), single olfactory receptor neurones on the antennae were screened for sensitivity to naturally produced plant volatiles The two most abundant types responded to a-pinene, (3-pinene and 3-carene and to isopinocamphone and pinocamphone, respectively. Major as well as minor constituents of plant volatile blends were employed for host and non-host detection, mainly including monoterpenes (bicyclic and monocyclic) [382]. 

The monoterpenes are subdivided into three groups acyclic, monocyclic and bicyclic (there is only one tricyclic terpene tricyclene). Each group contains hydrocarbon terpenes, terpene alcohols, terpene aldehydes, ketones, oxides etc... 

The range of monoterpenes encountered is extended considerably by cyclization reactions, and monocyclic or bicyclic systems can be created. Some of the more important examples of these ring systems are shown in Figure 5.11. Such cyclizations would not be expected to occur with the precursor geranyl diphosphate, the E stereochemistry of the double bond being unfavourable for ring formation (Figure 5.9). Neryl PP or linalyl PP, however, do have favourable stereochemistry, and either or both... 

Terpenes are a class of naturally occurring olefins found in many plants. They are biosynthetically derived from isoprene, CsHg, and therefore consist of Cs-building blocks and are found in both cyclic and acyclic forms. An important subgroup is the monoterpenes, which consist of two isoprene units and are of the molecular formula Ci0H16. Of the monocyclic monoterpenes, by far the most industrially relevant is limonene, which is abundantly present as a fragrance in various household products. From the bicyclic monoterpenes, a-pinene, p-pinene, camphene, and carene are of industrial relevance and are also mostly used in the fragrance industry [44]. 

Figure 3.2 Monoterpenes (C10H16). (A) Myreene, an acyclic monoterpene. (B) a-Pinene, a dicyclic structure. (C) d-Limonene, a monocyclic structure. Courtesy Spiring Enterprises Ltd.

Figure 3.9 Ketones. /-Carvone (C10H140), a monocyclic monoterpene ketone. Courtesy Spiring Enterprises Ltd.

Monocyclic monoterpenes include the fully saturated menthol (5-methyl-2-isopropyl-cyclohexanol) (C6) (peppermint smell), the fully unsaturated analogue thymol (5-methyl-2-isopropylphenol) (G6) (smell of thyme) and the partially unsaturated a-terpinene (5,6-dihydro-4-isopropyltoluene) (G6) (lemon odour). Variants derive from different degrees of unsaturation and substitution and from different functional groups (e.g. alkyl, hydroxyl, aldehyde, peroxy and keto groups). 

Monoterpenoids are responsible for fragrances and flavors of many plants and thus their products are used in perfumery and as spices. To date over 1,500 monoterpenoids are known, and these constitute acyclic, monocyclic, and bicyclic monoterpenoids (32), which occur in nature as hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, and carboxylic acids and their esters. Several acyclic monoterpenoid hydrocarbons are known, and these include trienes such as 3-myrcene (Cl), a-myrcene (C2), (Z)-a-ocimene (C3), ( )-a-ocimene (C4), (Z)-3-ocimene (C5), and ( )-P-ocimene (C6). 3-Myrcene and 3-ocimene are constituents of basil (Oci-mum basilicum, Labiatae) and bay (Pimenta acris, Myrtaceae), pettitgrain (Citrus vulgaris, Rutaceae) leaves, strobiles of hops (Humulus lupulus, Cannabaceae), and several other essential oils. Unsaturated acyclic monoterpene alcohol constituents of plants and their derived aldehydes play a signihcant role in the perfume industry. Some common acyclic monoterpene alcohols and aldehydes include geraniol (C7), linalool (C8) (a... 

Figure 5 Chemical diversity of monocyclic cyclohexane and aromatic monoterpenes.

Terpenes are most familiar, at least by odor, as compounds of the so-called essential oils obtained by steam distillation or ether extraction of various plants. Thousands of different terpenes are known. According to the isoprene rule proposed by L. Ruzicka in 1921, they can be considered to arise from head-to-tail joining of simple five-carbon isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) units. Terpenes are subdivided into groups depending on the number of isoprene units [9]. For example, monoterpenes are 10-carbon substances biosynthesized from two isoprene units, which can be divided into aliphatic, monocyclic, or bicyclic species Some typical exponents of each monoterpene subgroup are shown in Fig 1... 

Two elements of the cyclization have yet to be addressed the isomerization of geranyl pyrophosphate to linalyl pyrophosphate (or the equivalent ion-pair) and the construction of bicyclic skeleta. Studies on the biosynthesis of linalool (61), and on the analogous nerolidyl system in the sesquiterpene series (52), have shown this allylic transposition to occur by a net suprafacial process, as expected. On the other hand, the chemical conversion of acyclic or monocyclic precursors to bicyclic monoterpenes, under relevant cationic cyclization conditions, has been rarely observed (47,62-65) and, thermodynamic considerations notwithstanding (66), bicyclizations remain poorly modeled. 

Monocyclic monoterpene hydrocarbons occur in many essential oils and their by-products. They have relatively weak odours, although some add dryness and green notes to the oils containing them. This is particularly so for lime and petitgrain. D-Limonene (1) occurs in citrus oils whereas the L-isomer is found in pine. If limonene or other terpenes break down during processing to produce isoprene, then racemic limonene, dipentene, is found in the product as a result of the Diels-Alder reaction. Terpinolene (2) is the dehydration product of a-terpineol and so it is often present as an artefact. a-Phellandrene (3) occurs in eucalyptus oil. Since it is a 1,3-diene, it is an obvious precursor for Diels-Alder reactions and a number of speciality ingredients are... 

The hydration of a-pinene (1) with aqueous mineral acids leads to a complex mixture of monoterpenes known as s)mthetic pine oil [2], The main products are monocyclic terpenes, namely a-terpineol (9). The reaction mechanism has been extensively studied [3-7]. It is generally accepted that it proceeds through cation I (Scheme 1). Subsequent carbonium ion rearrangements leads to two parallel pathways. One yields bi- and tricyclic products such as camphene (2), bomeol (3) and isobomeol (4). The other )delds monocyclic products such as li-monene (5), a- (6) and y-terpinenes (7) terpinolene (8), a-terpineol (9)and 1,8-terpine (10) Products from the cyclization of terpineol, like 1,8-cineol, can also be formed. By controlling the many reaction variables the process can be directed to produce a maximum of terpene alcohol s. 

Monocyclic monoterpene ketone monooxygenase Rhodococcus erythropolis DCL 14 1 single polypeptide NADPH 60 FAD 9.0 [51]... 

Before 1960, one of main components of olive, the oleuropein, was studied in Roma. Panizzi s research group established the structure of this monoterpene glucoside, die leader of the group, that only several years later was identified as secoiridoids. Panizzi s group has isolated two other compounds the oleuropeic acid that is a monocyclic monoterpene, and its saccharose derivative. 

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