Limonene

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Limonene
Skeletal structure of the R-isomer
Ball-and-stick model of the R-isomer
Limonene extracted from orange peels.
Names
IUPAC name
1-Methyl-4-(1-methylethenyl)-cyclohexene
Other names
4-Isopropenyl-1-methylcyclohexene
p-Menth-1,8-diene
Racemic: DL-limonene; Dipentene
Identifiers
138-86-3 N
ChEBI CHEBI:15384 YesY
ChEMBL ChEMBL449062 N
ChemSpider 20939 (R/S) YesY
388386 (S) YesY
389747 (R) YesY
Jmol 3D model Interactive image
KEGG D00194 YesY
PubChem 22311 (R/S)
439250 (S)
UNII GFD7C86Q1W YesY
  • InChI=1S/C10H16/c1-8(2)10-6-4-9(3)5-7-10/h4,10H,1,5-7H2,2-3H3 YesY
    Key: XMGQYMWWDOXHJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N YesY
  • InChI=1/C10H16/c1-8(2)10-6-4-9(3)5-7-10/h4,10H,1,5-7H2,2-3H3
    Key: XMGQYMWWDOXHJM-UHFFFAOYAC
  • CC1=CCC(CC1)C(=C)C
Properties
C10H16
Molar mass 136.24 g·mol−1
Appearance colorless to pale-yellow liquid
Odor Lemon
Density 0.8411 g/cm3
Melting point −74.35 °C (−101.83 °F; 198.80 K)
Boiling point 176 °C (349 °F; 449 K)
insoluble
Solubility miscible in alcohol, benzene, chloroform, ether, CS2, and oils
soluble in CCl4
87° - 102°
1.4727
Vapor pressure {{{value}}}
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

Limonene is a colourless liquid hydrocarbon classified as a cyclic terpene. The more common d-isomer possesses a strong smell of oranges.[1] It is used in chemical synthesis as a precursor to carvone and as a renewables-based solvent in cleaning products.

Limonene takes its name from the lemon, as the rind of the lemon, like other citrus fruits, contains considerable amounts of this compound, which contributes to their odor. Limonene is a chiral molecule, and biological sources produce one enantiomer: the principal industrial source, citrus fruit, contains d-limonene ((+)-limonene), which is the (R)-enantiomer (CAS number 5989-27-5, EINECS number 227-813-5). Racemic limonene is known as dipentene.[2] d-Limonene is obtained commercially from citrus fruits through two primary methods: centrifugal separation or steam distillation.

Chemical reactions

Limonene is a relatively stable terpene and can be distilled without decomposition, although at elevated temperatures it cracks to form isoprene.[3] It oxidizes easily in moist air to produce carveol, carvone, and limonene oxide.[4] With sulfur, it undergoes dehydrogenation to p-cymene.[5]

Limonene occurs naturally as the (R)-enantiomer, but racemizes to dipentene at 300 °C. When warmed with mineral acid, limonene isomerizes to the conjugated diene α-terpinene (which can also easily be converted to p-cymene). Evidence for this isomerization includes the formation of Diels-Alder adducts between α-terpinene adducts and maleic anhydride.

It is possible to effect reaction at one of the double bonds selectively. Anhydrous hydrogen chloride reacts preferentially at the disubstituted alkene, whereas epoxidation with mCPBA occurs at the trisubstituted alkene.

In another synthetic method Markovnikov addition of trifluoroacetic acid followed by hydrolysis of the acetate gives terpineol.

Biosynthesis

Limonene is formed from geranyl pyrophosphate, via cyclization of a neryl carbocation or its equivalent as shown.[6] The final step involves loss of a proton from the cation to form the alkene.

Biosynthesis of limonene from geranyl pyrophosphate

The most widely practiced conversion of limonene is to carvone. The three step reaction begins with the regioselective addition of nitrosyl chloride across the trisubstituted double bond. This species is then converted to the oxime with base, and the hydroxylamine is removed to give the ketone-containing carvone.[1]

Biological properties

The principal metabolites of limonene are (+)- and (−)-trans–carveol, a product of 6-hydroxylation) and (+)- and (−)-perillyl alcohol, a product of 7-hydroxylation by CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 cytochromes in human liver microsomes.[7] The enantiomers of perillyl alcohol have been investigated for their pharmacological activities as dietary chemotherapeutic agents. They are viewed as novel therapeutic options in some CNS neoplasms and other solid tumours, particularly for the treatment of gliomas.[8] The cytotoxic activities of perillyl alcohol and limonene metabolites are likely due to their antiangiogenic activities, hyperthermia inducing effects as well as negative apoptosis regulation and Ras pathways.[9]

Uses

Limonene is common in cosmetic products. As the main odor constituent of citrus (plant family Rutaceae), d-limonene is used in food manufacturing and some medicines, e.g. as a flavoring to mask the bitter taste of alkaloids, and as a fragrance in perfumery, aftershave lotions, bath products and other such products that include fragrance;[10] it is also used as botanical insecticide,[11] the d enantiomer is most active as an insecticide. It is added to cleaning products such as hand cleansers to give a lemon-orange fragrance (see orange oil) and because of its ability to dissolve oils. In contrast, l-limonene has a piney, turpentine-like odor.

In natural and alternative medicine, d-limonene is marketed to relieve gastroesophageal reflux disease and heartburn.[12]

Limonene is increasingly being used as a solvent for cleaning purposes, such as the removal of oil from machine parts, as it is produced from a renewable source (citrus oil, as a byproduct of orange juice manufacture). It is used as a paint stripper and is also useful as a fragrant alternative to turpentine. Limonene is also used as a solvent in some model airplane glues and as a constituent in some paints. All-natural commercial air fresheners, with air propellants, containing limonene are used by philatelists to remove self-adhesive postage stamps from envelope paper.[13]

Limonene is also finding increased use as a solvent for filament-fused 3D printing.[14] Printers can print the plastic of choice for the model, but erect supports and binders from HIPS, a polystyrene plastic that is easily solvable in limonene.

As it is combustible, limonene has also been considered as a biofuel.[15]

In preparing tissues for histology or histopathology, d-limonene is often used as a less toxic substitute for xylene when clearing dehydrated specimens. Clearing agents are liquids miscible with alcohols (such as ethanol or isopropanol) and with melted paraffin wax, in which specimens are embedded to facilitate cutting of thin sections for microscopy.[16][17][18]

Safety

Limonene and its oxidation products are skin and respiratory irritants, and limonene-1,2-oxide (formed by aerial oxidation) is a known skin sensitizer. Most reported cases of irritation have involved long-term industrial exposure to the pure compound, e.g., during degreasing or the preparation of paints. However, a study of patients presenting dermatitis showed that 3% were sensitized to limonene.[19]

Although high doses have been shown to cause renal cancer in male rats,[20] limonene is considered by some researchers to be a potential chemopreventive agent [21] with value as a dietary anti-cancer tool in humans.[22] There is no evidence for carcinogenicity or genotoxicity in humans. The IARC classifies d-limonene as a Group 3 carcinogen: not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans.[19][23]

Compendial status

See also

References

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  7. Miyazawa1 M, Shindo M, and Shimada S (2002). Metabolism of (+)- and (−)-limonenes to respective carveols and perillyl alcohols by CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 in human liver microsomes. Drug Metab Dispos 30(5):602-7. PMID 11950794 article doi:10.1124/dmd.30.5.602
  8. da Fonseca CO et al. (2011). J Cancer Res Clin Oncol.137(2):287-93. PMID 20401670 doi:10.1007/s00432-010-0873-0
  9. de Saldanha da Gama Fischer et al. (2011). Chemo-resistant protein expression pattern of glioblastoma cells (A172) to perillyl alcohol.J Proteome Res.10(1):153-60. PMID 20806975
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  11. EPA R.E.D. Fact Sheet on Limonene, September 1994
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  15. Cyclone Power to Showcase External Combustion Engine at SAE Event, Green Car Congress, 20 September 2007
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  17. Carson F 1997 Histotechnology. A Self-Instructional Text. Chicago: ASCP Press, pp.28-31. ISBN 0-89189-411-X.
  18. Kiernan JA 2008 Histological and Histochemical Methods. 4th ed. Bloxham, UK, pp.54,57. ISBN 978-1-904842-42-2.
  19. 19.0 19.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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Further reading

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External links