The equal molar mixtures of Dihydromyrcene (1), Myrcene (2), 3-Carene (3), 1, 8-
p-Menthadiene (4), Citronellol (5) and lower fatty acid (carbon number 24) respectively were passed through glass tube packed with cation exchange resin at room temperature.
Hydration of (1) yielded only dihydromyrcenol as the product. Hydration of (2) gave linallol, myrcenol, geraniol and α-terpineol as the main products. Hydration of (3) and (4) gave α-terpineol as the main product. Hydration of (5) gave only hydroxycitronellol as the product.
Cation exchange resin was found to stand repeated use over again, and to be valuable for hydration of terpenes.
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