It is a colorless liquid
with a fresh, floral, slightly lime-like odor. Due to its conjugated double bonds, it
tends to polymerize; polymerization can be suppressed by adding inhibitors (e.g.,
antioxidants such as BHT).
Myrcenol can be prepared by treating myrcene with diethylamine to give a mixture
of geranyl- and neryldiethylamine. These compounds are hydrated with a
dilute acid to the corresponding hydroxydiethylamines. Deamination tomyrcenol
is effected by using a palladium–phosphine–cation complex as a catalyst.
Myrcenol is used in perfumery to obtain a lifting top note in citrus and lavender
compositions. It is mainly important in the production of 4-(4-hydroxy-4-
methylpentyl)-3-cyclohexenecarboxaldehyde.
