A small number of hemiterpenes are used in perfumery, the most important of which are prenyl acetate and benzoate. Thioesters, such as those shown in Scheme 4.11, have extremely intense green odours reminiscent of galbanum, in which they occur naturally. The esters are usually prepared from prenyl chloride and the thioesters from the corresponding thiol and acid chloride.
Senecioyl chloride Thioprenol |
Scheme 4.11