Abstracts Chemistry

Hydrogenation of geraniol and related compounds.  – .

by Paul Z. Bedoukian

The terpenes constitute an important group amongst the naturally occurring organic compounds. They vary greatly in nature and character and a very large number of them are still of unknown constitution. An interesting number of these compounds have been termed terpene aliphatic alcohols. They are comparatively small in number and although non-cyclic in nature, they are closely related to cyclic compounds and prone to cyclize under certain conditions. [...] Their general structure and chemical properties have been fairly thoroughly investigated but the question of their isomeric structures has not yet been definitely settled. A brief historical review of the chemistry of the primary aliphatic terpene alcohols, namely, geraniol and citronellol, will be given. The attention attached to these compounds is largely due to their importance in the perfumery trade. Geraniol is a colourless liquid of sweet odour, recalling that of rose and pelargonium. It is found in the free state and also in the form of its esters in a large number of essential oils. Most of the work done on its occurrence was carried out in the last decade of the nineteenth century. It was found to be a constituent of palmarosa, Bulgarian and Turkish rose oils, geranium oils, citronella oils, lemongrass oil, linaloe oil, nutmeg oil, sassafras oil, petigrain oil, lavender oil and in smaller quantities in a large number of other oils. [...]