Citronellol, or dihydrogeraniol, is a natural acyclic monoterpenoid. Both enantiomers occur in nature. (+)-Citronellol, which is found in citronella oils, including Cymbopogon nardus (50%), is the more common isomer. (−)-Citronellol is widespread, but particularly abundant in the oils of rose (18–55%) and Pelargonium geraniums.[1]
Preparation
Several million kilograms of citronellol are produced annually. It is mainly obtained by partial hydrogenation of geraniol or nerol over copper chromite catalyst.[2] Hydrogenation of both C=C bonds using a nickel catalyst gives tetrahydrogeraniol, yet another commercial fragrance.[3]
Citronellol is used in perfumes and as a fragrance in cleaning products. In many applications, one of the enantiomers is preferred. It is a component of citronella oil, an insect repellant.[2]
Citronellol is used as a raw material for the production of rose oxide.[2][6] It is also a precursor to many commercial and potential fragrances such as citronellol acetate, citronellyl oxyacetaldehyde, citronellyl methyl acetal, and ethyl citronellyl oxalate.[2]
Health and safety
The United States FDA considers citronellol as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for food use.[7] Citronellol is subject to restrictions on its use in perfumery,[8] as some people may become sensitised to it, but the degree to which citronellol can cause an allergic reaction in humans is disputed.[9][10]
In terms of dermal safety, citronellol has been evaluated as an insect repellent.[11]
^Panten, Johannes; Surburg, Horst (2015). "Flavors and Fragrances, 2. Aliphatic Compounds". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. pp. 1–55. doi:10.1002/14356007.t11_t01. ISBN978-3-527-30673-2.
^Morris, Robert H. (2007). "Ruthenium and Osmium". In De Vries, J. G.; Elsevier, C. J. (eds.). The Handbook of Homogeneous Hydrogenation. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. ISBN978-3-527-31161-3.
^Ait Ali, M.; Allaoud, S.; Karim, A.; Roucoux, A.; Mortreux, A. (1995). "Catalytic Synthesis of (R)- and (S)-citronellol by homogeneous hydrogenation over amidophosphinephosphinite and diaminodiphosphine rhodium complexes". Tetrahedron: Asymmetry. 6 (2): 369. doi:10.1016/0957-4166(95)00015-H.
^Alsters, Paul L.; Jary, Walther; Aubry, Jean-Marie (2010). ""Dark" Singlet Oxygenation of β-Citronellol: A Key Step in the Manufacture of Rose Oxide". Organic Process Research & Development. 14: 259–262. doi:10.1021/op900076g.
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