Patchoulol
Encyclopedia
Patchoulol or patchouli alcohol (C15H26O) is a terpene
extracted from Patchouli
. The (-)-optical isomer is one of the organic compound
s responsible for the typical patchouli scent. Patchoulol is also used in the synthesis of the chemotherapy drug Taxol.
Terpene
Terpenes are a large and diverse class of organic compounds, produced by a variety of plants, particularly conifers, though also by some insects such as termites or swallowtail butterflies, which emit terpenes from their osmeterium. They are often strong smelling and thus may have had a protective...
extracted from Patchouli
Patchouli
Patchouli is a species from the genus Pogostemon and a bushy herb of the mint family, with erect stems, reaching two or three feet in height and bearing small, pale pink-white flowers...
. The (-)-optical isomer is one of the organic compound
Organic compound
An organic compound is any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. For historical reasons discussed below, a few types of carbon-containing compounds such as carbides, carbonates, simple oxides of carbon, and cyanides, as well as the...
s responsible for the typical patchouli scent. Patchoulol is also used in the synthesis of the chemotherapy drug Taxol.