Zingiberene is a monocyclic sesquiterpene that is the predominant constituent of the oil of ginger (Zingiber officinale),[1] from which it gets its name. It can contribute up to 30% of the essential oils in ginger rhizomes. This is the compound that gives ginger its distinct flavoring.
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Preferred IUPAC name
2-Methyl-5-(6-methylhept-5-en-2-yl)cyclohexa-1,3-diene | |
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3D model (JSmol)
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3DMet |
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2554989 | |
ChEBI |
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ChemSpider |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.007.096 |
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KEGG |
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MeSH | zingiberene |
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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Properties | |
C15H24 | |
Molar mass | 204.357 g·mol−1 |
Density | 871.3 mg cm−3 (at 20 °C) |
Boiling point | 134 to 135 °C (273 to 275 °F; 407 to 408 K) at 2.0 kPa |
log P | 6.375 |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references
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Zingiberene is formed in the isoprenoid pathway from farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP). FPP undergoes a rearrangement to give nerolidyl diphosphate. After the removal of pyrophosphate, the ring closes leaving a carbocation on the tertiary carbon attached to the ring. A 1,3-hydride shift then takes place to give a more stable allylic carbocation. The final step in the formation of zingiberene is the removal of the cyclic allylic proton and consequent formation of a double bond. Zingiberene synthase is the enzyme responsible for catalyzing the reaction forming zingiberene as well as other mono- and sesquiterpenes.[2]