Colorless solid; sweet fruity aroma.
Caryophyllene oxide which has a woody, slightly ambergris-like odor, can be prepared by treatment of
??-caryophyllene with organic peracids.
Reported found in Nepeta betonicifolia C.A. Meyer oil Turkey (39.20%), geranium rose-scented oil (Pelargonium
spp.) Cuba (14.70%), melissa oil (9.99%), guava leaf oil Cuba (8.20%), etc.
β-Caryophyllene Epoxide, and its derivatives has shown to have microbial transformation and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. It is also the main active constituent of essential oils obtained from various plants, used for flavoring and fragrances.
ChEBI: A natural product found in Cupania cinerea.
Medium strength odor, woody type.
Low toxicity by
ingestion and skin contact. A skin irritant.
When heated to decomposition it emits
acrid smoke and irritating fumes.
Purify the oxide by TLC on silica gel with EtOAc/pet ether (b 60-80o) (15:85), and recrystallise it from MeOH or *C6H6. [NMR: Warnhoff Can J Chem 42 1664 1964, Ramage & Whitehead J Chem Soc 4336 1954, Beilstein 17 IV 392.]
