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Geraniol



Geraniol
IUPAC name 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadien-l-ol
Identifiers
CAS number 106-24-1
SMILES CC(C)=CCC/C(C)=C/CO
Properties
Molecular formula C10H18O
Molar mass 154.25 g/mol
Density 0.889 g/cm3
Melting point

15 °C

Boiling point

229 °C

Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox disclaimer and references

Geraniol, also called rhodinol, is a monoterpenoid and an alcohol. It is the primary part of oil-of-rose, palmarosa oil, and citronella oil (Java type). It also occurs in small quantities in geranium, lemon, and many other essential oils. It appears as a clear to pale-yellow oil which is insoluble in water, but soluble in most common organic solvents. It has a rose-like odor, for which it is commonly used in perfumes. It is used in flavors such as peach, raspberry, grapefruit, red apple, plum, lime, orange, lemon, watermelon, pineapple and blueberry.

Research has shown geraniol to be an effective plant based insect repellent.[1][2]

On the other hand, it is also produced by the scent glands of honey bees to help them mark nectar-bearing flowers and locate the entrances to their hives.

In a 1994 report released by five top cigarette companies, geraniol is listed as one of the 599 additives to cigarettes, to improve their flavor.[1] Geraniol and other flavor compounds are found naturally in well aged tobacco.

The functional group based on geraniol (essentially geraniol lacking the terminal -OH) is called geranyl. It is important in biosynthesis of terpenes. In acidic solutions, geraniol is converted to the cyclic terpene alpha-terpineol.

Health and safety information

Geraniol should be avoided by people with perfume allergy[3].

References

  1. ^ Barnard, D.R., and Xue, R. Laboratory evaluation of mosquito repellents against Aedes albopictus, Culex nigripalpus, and Ochlerotatus triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae), J. Med. Entomol. 41(4):726-730, 2004.
  2. ^ Univ. of Florida. 1999. UF entomologist develops safe, effective alternative to DEET insect repellents. http://www.napa.ufl.edu/99news/nodeet.htm
  3. ^ Survey and health assessment of chemical substances in massage oils

See also

  • Citral - the corresponding aldehyde
  • Nerol - the double bond isomer
 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Geraniol". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.
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