Myrcenol Explained

Myrcenol is an organic compound, specifically a terpenoid. It is most notable as one of the fragrant components of lavender oil.

It is also found in the hop plant (Humulus lupulus). E-Myrcenol acts also as a pheromone for bark beetles.[1]

Role in fragrance industry

Myrcenol is obtained synthetically from myrcene via hydroamination of the 1,3-diene followed by hydrolysis and Pd-catalysed removal of the amine. As a 1,3-diene, myrcenol undergoes Diels-Alder reactions with several dienophiles such as acrolein to give cyclohexene derivatives that are also useful fragrances.[2]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.chemical-ecology.net/z41-abs.htm E-Myrcenol in Ips duplicatus: An aggregation pheromone component new for bark beetles. Byers, J.A., Schlyter, F., Birgersson, G., & Francke, W. 1990 Experientia 46:1209-1211.
  2. Karl-Georg Fahlbusch, Franz-Josef Hammerschmidt, Johannes Panten, Wilhelm Pickenhagen, Dietmar Schatkowski, Kurt Bauer, Dorothea Garbe, Horst Surburg "Flavors and Fragrances" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 2002, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim.