Thujopsene is a natural chemical compound, classified as a

sesquiterpene Sesquiterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of three isoprene units and often have the molecular formula C15H24. Like monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes may be cyclic or contain rings, including many unique combinations. Biochemical modificatio ...

, with the molecular formula C₁₅H₂₄. Thujopsene is found in the

essential oil An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (easily evaporated at normal temperatures) chemical compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the o ...

of a variety of

conifer Conifers are a group of conifer cone, cone-bearing Spermatophyte, seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the phylum, division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a single ...

s, in particular ''

Juniperus cedrus ''Juniperus cedrus'', the Canary Islands juniper, is a species of juniper, native to the western Canary Islands (Tenerife, La Palma, Gran Canaria, Gomera) and Madeira (''J. cedrus'' Webb & Berthel. subsp. ''maderensis'' (Menezes) Rivas Mart ''et ...

'' and ''

Thujopsis dolabrata ''Thujopsis'' () is a genus of conifers in the cypress family ( Cupressaceae), the sole member of which is ''Thujopsis dolabrata''. It is endemic to Japan, where it is named ''asunaro'' (). It is similar to the closely related genus ''Thuja'' ...

'' in which it comprises around 2.2% of the weight of the heartwood.

Biosynthesis

Thujopsene is biosynthesized from

farnesyl pyrophosphate Farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), also known as farnesyl diphosphate (FDP), is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of terpenes and terpenoids such as sterols and carotenoids. It is also used in the synthesis of CoQ (part of the electron transport cha ...

(FPP):

References

{{reflist Hydrocarbons Sesquiterpenes Cyclopropanes Tricyclic compounds