Abstract |
The sole known source of delta-3-carene, a bicyclic terpene, in the United States and Canada is in the by-product turpentine produced by five western Kraft pulp mills. The present potential supply of delta-3-carene is 1000 gallons per day. Two cyclopropane ring-containing dibasic acids (cis- and transcaronic acids) were recovered in 99% purity from the mixture of oxidation products obtained by the potassium permanganate oxidation of delta-3-carene in acetone. The identification of cis- and trans-caronic acids was based on commercial analysis for carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and on infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The spectra are included in the thesis. The relative solubilities of the oxidation products in water varied at different pH values. Thus, they were separated by ether extraction of a water solution with pH control. |