(−)-α-Terpineol

α-Terpineol is a monoterpene alcohol. It is one of the components responsible for the antifungal activity of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) essential oil. The reaction rate constant of α-terpineol with OH radical and ozone was found to be (1.9±0.5)×10^-10cm³ molecule^-1s^-1 and (3.0±0.2)×10^-16cm³ molecule^-1s^-1, respectively.

α-Terpineol has been used as a reference standard for the identification of α-terpineol in tequila by solid phase microextraction (SPME) and capillary gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and in virgin olive oil samples by headspace SPME followed by GC-MS equipped with flame ionization detector (FID).
It may be used as a reference standard for the analysis of α-terpineol as trace volatile compound in wine by solid-phase extraction (SPE) followed by GC-MS and in essential oils and related compounds from aromatic plants by SPME and GC-MS.

α-Terpineol may be used in the synthesis of α-terpinyl esters of acetic acid and acetic anhydride via lipase-mediated esterification.

Depending on the ambient or transport temperature the aggregation state can vary.

This compound is commonly found in plants of the genus: cinnamomum mentha pimpinella salvia thymus valeriana glycyrrhiza