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From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium

Terpenes - the large and varied class of hydrocarbons, produced by a wide variety of plants and some mushrooms. Very big content of terpents and terpenoids are in conifers, and in row of plants essential oils, though also by some insects such as swallowtail butterflies, which emit terpenes from their osmeterium. They are the major components of resin, and of turpentine produced from resin.

• The name "terpene" is derived from the word "turpentine".

Structure

Major terpenes consist of one or some isoprene units.

• Natural rubber consists of polyisoprene in which the double bonds are cis. Some plants produce a polyisoprene with trans double bonds, known as gutta-percha.

External links

• Institute of Chemistry - terpenes
• Structures of alpha pinene and beta pinene

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