Sesquiterpene Hydrocarbons of Commercial Copaiba Balsam and American Cedarwood Oils
Abstract The sesquiterpene hydrocarbons of commercial samples of copaiba balsam and American cedarwood oils were separated by a combination of techniques including silver nitrate adduction, column chromatography on alumina, distillation, and gas chromatography. Components were identified by their infrared spectra. Of the 24 sesquiterpene hydrocarbons detected in copaiba balsam oil, 18 were identified as follows: δ-elemcne, copaene, β-cubebene, cyperene, α-bergamotene, β-elemene, caryophyllene,γ -elemene, β-farnesene, allo-aromadendrene, α-, β-humuIene, β-bisabolene, α-selinene, β-selinene, δ-cadinene, ar-curcumene, γ -cadinene, calamenene, and a-cubebene (tentatively identified). The following sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were identified in American cedarwood oil: β-eIemene, acedrene, caryophyllene, thujopsene, α-,βhumulene, "acorene," valencene, cuparene, a cuprenene, and two additional hydrocarbons (tentatively identified). Gas chromatographic retention data are reported for 27 of the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons isolated