ISOPULEGOL, TECH.

Chemical properties

clear colorless to light yellow liquid

Chemical properties

Similarly to menthol, isopulegol has three asymmetric carbon atoms and, therefore, four stereoisomers, each occurring as a pair of enantiomers. All isomers are colorless liquids with a more or less minty, herbaceous odor. The isopulegols occur in a number of essential oils, often in optically active or partly racemic form. Since citronellal readily cyclizes to isopulegol, the latter occurs frequently in citronellal-containing essential oils, in which it is formed during the isolation of the oil. (1R,3R,4S)-(?)-Isopulegol is produced on a large scale as an intermediate for the production of (?)-menthol.(br/) A huge number of catalysts for the cyclization of citronellal to isopulegol have been described. Newer developments offer advantages in diastereoselectivity and yield through the use of modified silicon dioxides or zeolites. Isopulegol is mainly used in mint-like flavor compositions. Pure (?)-isopulegol is also used to impart cooling sensation effects to cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations. Terpineols are unsaturated monocyclic terpene alcohols and are formed by acid-catalyzed hydration of pinenes;α-, β-, γ-, and δ-isomers exist:
α- and β-Terpineol occur in optically active forms and as racemates. α-Terpineol is an important commercial product. It occurs in a large number of essential oils primarily as (?)-α-terpineol (e.g., in conifer and lavandin oils). Small quantities of (+)- and rac-α-terpineol are found in many other essential oils; β-, γ-, and δ-terpineol do not occur widely in nature.

The Uses of ISOPULEGOL, TECH.

Isopulegol is a component of essential and volatile oils extracted from natural sources.

What are the applications of Application

Isopulegol, mixture of isomers is a useful biochemical for proteomics reseearch

Safety Profile

Moderately toxic by ingestion and skin contact. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.