Cembrene A, or sometimes neocembrene, is a natural monocyclic diterpene isolated from corals of the genus Nephthea.[1] It is a colorless oil with a faint wax-like odor.

Cembrene A
Cembrene A
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
(1E,5E,9E,12R)-1,5,9-Trimethyl-12-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclotetradeca-1,5,9-triene
Other names
(R,1E,5E,9E)-1,5,9-Trimethyl-12-(prop-1-en-2-yl)cyclotetradeca-1,5,9-triene
Neocembrene-A
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
UNII
  • InChI=1/C20H32/c1-16(2)20-14-12-18(4)10-6-8-17(3)9-7-11-19(5)13-15-20/h8,11-12,20H,1,6-7,9-10,13-15H2,2-5H3/b17-8+,18-12+,19-11+/t20-/m0/s1
    Key: VWSPQDDPRITBAM-KPGNMOGWBK
  • C1(=C\CC/C(=C/C[C@H](C(=C)\C)CCC(=C\CC1)\C)C)\C
Properties
C20H32
Molar mass 272.47 g/mol
Boiling point 150 to 152 °C (302 to 306 °F; 423 to 425 K) at 0.8 mmHg
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Cembrene A itself has little importance as a chemical entity, being a trail pheromone for termites;[2] however, the chemical structure of cembrene is central to a very wide variety of other natural products found both in plants and in animals.[3]

Cembrenes are biosynthesized by macrocyclization of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Vanderah, David J.; Rutledge, Neal; Schmitz, Francis J.; Ciereszko, Leon S (1978). "Marine natural products: cembrene-A and cembrene-C from a soft coral, Nephthea species". Journal of Organic Chemistry. 43 (8): 1614–1616. doi:10.1021/jo00402a040.
  2. ^ Birch, A. J.; Brown, W. V.; Corrie, J. E. T.; Moore, B. P (1972). "Neocembrene-A, a termite trail pheromone". Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1. 21: 2653–2658. doi:10.1039/p19720002653.
  3. ^ a b Terpenes: Flavors, Fragrances, Pharmaca, Pheromones, Eberhard Breitmaier, page 7. ISBN 978-3-527-31786-8