Cembrene A, or sometimes neocembrene, is a natural monocyclic
diterpene isolated from corals of the genus ''
Nephthea''. 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;
however, the chemical structure of cembrene is central to a very wide variety of other natural products found both in plants and in animals.
[''Terpenes: Flavors, Fragrances, Pharmaca, Pheromones'', Eberhard Breitmaier, page 7. ]
Cembrenes are biosynthesized by
macrocyclization
Macrocycles are often described as molecules and ions containing a ring of twelve or more atoms. Classical examples include the crown ethers, calixarenes, porphyrins, and cyclodextrins. Macrocycles describe a large, mature area of chemistry.
...
of
geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate.
References
{{reflist
Diterpenes
Alkene derivatives
Insect ecology
Insect pheromones
Cycloalkenes