2.14. Synthesis

After very many years of research, the chemistry of essential oils is particularly well documented and their synthesis and reactions have been closely researched. Some of these are of considerable economic importance to the flavour industry and the following five examples illustrate just some of the simpler interrelationships which exist:

1. The conversion of eugenol to vanillin
2. The conversion of safrole to heliotropin
3. The preparation of anisaldehyde from anethole
4. Derivatives from the a-pinene fraction of oil of turpentine
5. Derivatives from the b-pinene fraction of oil of turpentine