Bergamotene
Chemical compound
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bergamotenes are a group of isomeric chemical compounds with the molecular formula C15H24. The bergamotenes are found in a variety of plants, particularly in their essential oils.
| |||
| |||
| Names | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IUPAC names
(α): 2,6-Dimethyl-6-(4-methylpent-3-enyl)bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-ene (β): 6-Methyl-2-methylidene-6-(4-methylpent-3-en-1-yl)bicyclo[3.1.1]heptane | |||
| Identifiers | |||
| |||
3D model (JSmol) |
| ||
| ChEBI |
| ||
| ChemSpider |
| ||
| KEGG | |||
PubChem CID |
|||
| UNII |
| ||
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
| ||
| |||
| |||
| Properties | |||
| C15H24 | |||
| Molar mass | 204.357 g·molâ1 | ||
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
| |||
There are two structural isomers, α-bergamotene and β-bergamotene, which differ only by the location of a double bond. Both of these isomers have stereoisomers, the most common of which are known as the cis and trans-isomers (or endo- and exo-isomers).
α-Bergamotene is found in the oils of carrot, bergamot, lime, citron, cottonseed, and kumquat.[1][2]
Pheromones
The bergamotenes are pheromones for some insects. For example, β-trans-bergamotene is a pheromone for the wasp Melittobia digitata.[3] Plants can defend themselves against attack by herbivorous insects by producing pheromones such as bergamotenes that attract predators of those herbivores.[4][5] In a more complex relationship, the tobacco plant Nicotiana attenuata emits α-trans-bergamotene from its flowers at night to attract the tobacco hawk moth (Manduca sexta) as a pollinator; however, during the day the leaves produce α-trans-bergamotene to lure predatory insects to feed on any larvae and eggs that the pollinator may have produced.[6][7]
Biosynthesis
All the bergamotenes are biosynthesized from farnesyl pyrophosphate[8] via a variety of enzymes including exo-alpha-bergamotene synthase, (+)-endo-beta-bergamotene synthase, (-)-endo-alpha-bergamotene synthase, and others. Bergamotenes, in turn, are intermediates in the biosynthesis of more complex chemical compounds. For example, β-trans-bergamotene is a precursor in the biosynthesis of fumagillin, ovalicin, and related antibiotics.[8][9]



