3-Carene is a bicyclic

monoterpene Monoterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of two isoprene units and have the molecular formula C10H16. Monoterpenes may be linear (acyclic) or contain rings (monocyclic and bicyclic). Modified terpenes, such as those containing oxygen func ...

consisting of fused

cyclohexene Cyclohexene is a hydrocarbon with the formula C6H10. This cycloalkene is a colorless liquid with a sharp smell. It is an intermediate in various industrial processes. Cyclohexene is not very stable upon long term storage with exposure to light a ...

and cyclopropane rings. It occurs as a constituent of

turpentine Turpentine (which is also called spirit of turpentine, oil of turpentine, terebenthene, terebinthine and (colloquially) turps) is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin harvested from living trees, mainly pines. Mainly used as a spec ...

, with a content as high as 42% depending on the source. Carene has a sweet and pungent odor, best described as a combination of fir needles, musky earth, and damp woodlands. A colorless liquid, it is not soluble in water, but miscible with fats and oils. It is chiral, occurring naturally both as the

racemate In chemistry, a racemic mixture, or racemate (), is one that has equal amounts of left- and right-handed enantiomers of a chiral molecule or salt. Racemic mixtures are rare in nature, but many compounds are produced industrially as racemates. ...

and enantio-enriched forms.

Reactions and uses

Treatment with

peracetic acid Peracetic acid (also known as peroxyacetic acid, or PAA) is an organic compound with the chemical formula, formula CH3CO3H. This peroxy acid is a colorless liquid with a characteristic acrid odor reminiscent of acetic acid. It can be highly corros ...

gives 3,4-caranediol.

Pyrolysis The pyrolysis (or devolatilization) process is the thermal decomposition of materials at elevated temperatures, often in an inert atmosphere. It involves a change of chemical composition. The word is coined from the Greek-derived elements ''py ...

over

ferric oxide Iron(III) oxide or ferric oxide is the inorganic compound with the formula Fe2O3. It is one of the three main oxides of iron, the other two being iron(II) oxide (FeO), which is rare; and iron(II,III) oxide (Fe3O4), which also occurs naturall ...

induces rearrangement, giving ''p''-cymene. Carene is used in the

perfume Perfume (, ; french: parfum) is a mixture of fragrant essential oils or aroma compounds (fragrances), fixatives and solvents, usually in liquid form, used to give the human body, animals, food, objects, and living-spaces an agreeable scent. Th ...

industry and as a chemical intermediate. Because carene can be found in

cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: '' Cannabis sativa'', '' C. indica'', and '' C. ruderalis''. Alternative ...

naturally, it can also be found in cannabis distillates. Greater concentrations of carene in a distillate give it an earthier taste and smell. 3-Carene is also present in mango, giving the fruit a characteristic

pine A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden accepts ...

-like flavor and aroma.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carene, 3- Flavors Cyclohexenes Monoterpenes Bicyclic compounds Cyclopropanes Sweet-smelling chemicals