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In nature, ocimene appears in basil, orchids, and mint. Perfumers often use ocimene to give their products sweet herbal aromas. Research has concluded that ocimene has antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cancer-fighting properties.
Ocimenes are a group of isomeric hydrocarbons. The ocimenes are monoterpenes found within a variety of plants and fruits. α-Ocimene and the two β-ocimenes differ in the position of the isolated double bond: it is terminal in the alpha isomer. α-Ocimene is cis-3,7-dimethyl-1,3,7-octatriene. β-Ocimene is trans-3,7-dimethyl-1,3,6-octatriene. β-Ocimene exists in two stereoisomeric forms, cis and trans, with respect to the central double bond.
![]() α-Ocimene
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![]() cis-β-Ocimene
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![]() trans-β-Ocimene
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Names | |
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IUPAC names
α: (3E)-3,7-Dimethylocta-1,3,7-triene
cis-β: (3Z)-3,7-Dimethylocta-1,3,6-triene trans-β: (3E)-3,7-Dimethylocta-1,3,6-triene | |
Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol)
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ChemSpider |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.034.205 ![]() |
PubChem CID
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UNII |
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Properties | |
C10H16 | |
Molar mass | 136.24 g/mol |
Density | 0.800 g/cm3 |
Melting point | 50 °C (122 °F; 323 K) |
Boiling point | mix of isomers: 100 °C at 70 mmHg |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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The ocimenes are often found naturally as mixtures of the various forms. The mixture, as well as the pure compounds, are oils with a pleasant odor. They are used in perfumery for their sweet herbal scent and are believed to act as plant defense and have anti-fungal properties. Like the related acyclic terpene myrcene, ocimenes are unstable in air. Like other terpenes, the ocimenes are nearly insoluble in water, but soluble in common organic solvents.
The name is derived from the plant genus name Ocimum from the Ancient Greek word for basil, ὤκιμον (ṓkimon).
English
Etymology
From translingual Ocimum + -ene.
Noun
ocimene (plural ocimenes)
- (organic chemistry) Any of several isomeric monoterpenes found in many plants
Translations
Anagrams
- Miocene