Chavicol
Chavicol (p-allylphenol) is a natural phenylpropene, a type of organic compound.[1] Its chemical structure consists of a benzene ring substituted with a hydroxy group and a propenyl group. It is a colorless liquid found together with terpenes in betel oil.
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| Names | |
|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name 4-(Prop-2-en-1-yl)phenol | |
| Other names 4-Allylphenol; p-Allylphenol; para-Allylphenol | |
| Identifiers | |
| 3D model (JSmol) | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.007.209 | 
| EC Number | 
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| KEGG | |
| PubChem CID | |
| UNII | |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
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| Properties | |
| C9H10O | |
| Molar mass | 134.18 g/mol | 
| Density | 1.020 g/cm3 | 
| Melting point | 16 °C (61 °F; 289 K) | 
| Boiling point | 238 °C (460 °F; 511 K) (123 °C at 16 mmHg) | 
| 2.46 g/L | |
| Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references | |
Properties and reactions
    
Chavicol is miscible with alcohol, ether, and chloroform. Dimerization of chavicol gives the neo-lignan magnolol.
Uses
    
Chavicol is used as an odorant in perfumery and as a flavor. It is found in many essential oils, including anise and gardenia.[2]
Biosynthesis
    
Chavicol is formed in sweet basil (Ocimum Basilicum) by the phenylpropanoid pathway via p-coumaryl alcohol. The allylic alcohol in p-coumaryl alcohol is converted into a leaving group. This then leaves thus forming a cation, this cation can be regarded as a quinone methide which then is reduced by NADPH to form either anol or chavicol.[3]

References
    
- Lide, D. R., ed. (2005). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (86th ed.). Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press. ISBN 0-8493-0486-5.
- "Chavicol, 501-92-8".
- Daniel G. Vassao, David R. Gang, Takao Koeduka, Brenda Jackson, Eran Pichersky, Laurence B. Davina and Norman G. Lewis, Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 2006, 4, 2733-2744. DOI: 10.1039/b605407b

