Cembrene A, or sometimes neocembrene, is a natural monocyclic diterpene isolated from corals of the genus Nephthea.[1] It is a colorless oil with a faint wax-like odor.

Cembrene A itself has little importance as a chemical entity, being a trail pheromone for termites;[2] however, the chemical structure of cembrene is central to a very wide variety of other natural products found both in plants and in animals.[3]

Cembrenes are biosynthesized by macrocyclization of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate.[3]

References

  1. ^ Vanderah, David J.; Rutledge, Neal; Schmitz, Francis J.; Ciereszko, Leon S (1978). "Marine natural products: cembrene-A and cembrene-C from a soft coral, Nephthea species". Journal of Organic Chemistry. 43 (8): 1614–1616. doi:10.1021/jo00402a040.
  2. ^ Birch, A. J.; Brown, W. V.; Corrie, J. E. T.; Moore, B. P (1972). "Neocembrene-A, a termite trail pheromone". Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1. 21: 2653–2658. doi:10.1039/p19720002653.
  3. ^ a b Terpenes: Flavors, Fragrances, Pharmaca, Pheromones, Eberhard Breitmaier, page 7. ISBN 978-3-527-31786-8