The (+)‐cis‐ and (+)‐trans‐Olibanic Acids: Key Odorants of Frankincense |
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| Authors: | Dr Céline Cerutti‐Delasalle Dr Mohamed Mehiri Dr Cecilia Cagliero Prof?Dr Patrizia Rubiolo Prof?Dr Carlo Bicchi Prof?Dr Uwe J Meierhenrich Dr Nicolas Baldovini |
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| Institution: | 1. Albert Vieille SA, Vallauris, France;2. Institut de Chimie de Nice, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, UMR 7272, Nice, France;3. Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università di Torino, Torino, Italy |
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| Abstract: | Frankincense (olibanum) is one of the oldest aromatic materials used by humans, but the key molecular constituents contributing to its characteristic odor remained unknown. Reported herein is the discovery that (1S,2S)‐(+)‐trans‐ and (1S,2R)‐(+)‐cis‐2‐octylcyclopropyl‐1‐carboxylic acids are highly potent and substantive odorants occurring in ppm amounts in all of the frankincense samples analyzed, even those showing radically different volatile compositions. These cyclopropyl‐derived acids provide the very characteristic old churchlike endnote of the frankincense odor. |
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| Keywords: | density functional calculations fragrances natural products small-ring systems structure elucidation |
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