NEROL

Description

Nerol has a fresh, sweet, rose-like odor and a bitter flavor. Nerol may be synthesized from pinene.

Chemical properties

Clear colorless to almost colorless liquid

Chemical properties

Nerol occurs in small quantities in many essential oils where it is always accompanied by geraniol; its name originates from its occurrence in neroli oil. Nerol is a colorless liquid with a pleasant rose-like odor, which, unlike that of geraniol, has a fresh green note. Nerol undergoes the same reactions as geraniol but cyclizes more readily in the presence of acids.
Nerol is produced along with geraniol from myrcene in the process described for geraniol. It can be separated from geraniol by fractional distillation.
Nerol is used in perfumery not only for the same purposes as geraniol, for example, in rose compositions, to which it lends a particular freshness, but also in other blossom compositions. In flavor work, it is used for bouquetting citrus flavors. Technical-grade nerol, often in a mixture with geraniol, is used as an intermediate in the production of citronellol and citral.

Chemical properties

Nerol has a fresh, sweet, rose-like odor and a bitter flavor.

Occurrence

Reported found in neroli oil (with geraniol) and in the essential oils of lemongrass, Ceylon citronella, ylangylang, champaca, Cayenne Bois de Rose and bergamot; also in lemon, sweet orange and petitgrain bergamot; in clary sage, lavandin, lavender, Mexican linaloe, myrrh, jasmine, Paraguay petitgrain; also reported among the volatile constituents of currant aroma; Helicrysum angustifolium contains up to 30 to 50% nerol. Also reported found in citrus peel oils and juices, apricot, cranberry, blueberry, currant, grapes, papaya, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, potato, tomato, cinnamon, ginger, mentha oils, mustard, nutmeg, thyme, hop oil, beer, gin, cognac, brandy, grape wines, tea, honey, Arctic bramble, passion fruit, prune, Japanese plum, rose apple, marjoram, mango, tamarind, cardamom, coriander seed and leaf, tarragon, litchi, licorice, buckwheat, laurel, wort, elderberry, cherimoya, myrtle leaf and berry, buchu oil, Bourbon vanilla, lemon balm, clary sage, loganberry, maté, German chamomile oil and mastic gum leaf oil.

The Uses of NEROL

Nerol is an isomer of Geraniol (G367000), used in the synthesis of insect repellant. It is also used in the synthesis of Angelicoin A and Herecinone J, which inhibit collagen-induced platelet aggregat ion.

The Uses of NEROL

nerol is a primary alcohol used in perfumes, especially those with rose and orange blossom scents. nerol is a naturally occurring fraction in oil of lavender, orange leaf, palmarosa, rose, neroli, and petitgrain. It is colorless and has a rose-like scent.

The Uses of NEROL

Nerol is a flavoring agent that is a colorless liquid with an odor resem- bling fresh, sweet roses and contains geranoils and other terpenic alcohols. it is miscible in alcohol, chloroform, and ether insoluble in water. it is obtained by synthesis. it is also termed cis-3,7-dime- thyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol.

Definition

ChEBI: The (2Z)-stereoisomer of 3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-ol. It has been isolated from the essential oils from plants like lemon grass.

Preparation

From pinene.

Aroma threshold values

Detection: 680 ppb to 2.2 ppm; aroma characteristics at 2%: rosy, slightly citrus, terpy and floral, reminiscent of linalool oxide with aldehydic waxy and fruity nuances

Taste threshold values

Taste characteristics at 10 ppm in 5% sugar and 0.1% CA: rosy with citrus nuances, fruity pear with floral citronellal notes

Synthesis Reference(s)

Tetrahedron, 40, p. 641, 1984 DOI: 10.1016/S0040-4020(01)91092-0
Tetrahedron Letters, 33, p. 5417, 1992 DOI: 10.1016/S0040-4039(00)79109-X
Synthesis, p. 328, 1988 DOI: 10.1055/s-1988-27559

General Description

The antifungal efficacy of nerol (cis-3,7-Dimethyl-2,6-octadien-1-ol), against Aspergillus flavus, was studied.

Safety Profile

Moderately toxic by intramuscular route. Mildly toxic by ingestion. A skin irritant. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.