Terpene

2022-11-09:

Terpene #

• There’s >30,000 of them. It’s any compound such that $\ce{(C5H8)}n$; each of these units is an “isoprene” . ‘Exotic’ carbon-carbon bonds are formed such that there are many molecules for any multiple of 5, and the subset of terpenoids (AKA isoprenoids) contain oxygens.
  • Monoterpenes (2) (C10)
  • sesquiterpenes (3) (C15)
  • diterpenes (4) (C20)
  • sesterterpenes (5) (C25)
  • triterpenes (6) (C30)
• Their volatility (I assume due to unsaturation) means they evaporate rather easily, making them pungent.
• Squalene and lanosterol are some that occur in animals.