Colorless, lustrous, rhombic, crystalline
prisms or white powder; slight characteristic odor;
slightly bitter taste. Efflorescent. Soluble in alcohol
and ether; slightly soluble in water. Combustible.
Pharmaceuticals, source of terpineol, medicine
(expectorant).
Used in screening of essential oil from Artemisia scoparia leaves for free radical scavenging activity
Terpin monohydrate is prepared from alpha-Pinene or Turpentine oil
by treatment with dilute sulfuric acid.
It has also been manufactured in the U.S.A.
from Pine Oil by acid treatment.
Crystallise terpin from H2O or EtOH. The anhydrous cis-isomer distils at 258o/760mm but hydrates on exposure to moist air. Anhydrous terpin is also obtained by recrystallisation from absolute EtOH. [Sword J Chem Soc 127 1632 1925, Lombard & Ambrose Bull Soc Chim Fr 230 1961, Beilstein 5 IV 435.]
