Quote: | Cymenes are very similar to D-limonine, correct? |
Both cymene and limonene are monoterpenes. But cymene is aromatic, which lowers its reactivity. Limonene is an alkene and as such may react under the
conditions, which may be responsible for the loss of phase separation. It may be possible to convert limonene to cymene somehow e.g. by refluxing over
a transition metal catalyst or high-valent oxide like Fe2O3, CuO or Ag2O, but this is pretty speculative. Limonene's reactivity makes it a
non-innocent solvent for electrochemistry.
Cymene's side-chain has conformational entropy which lowers its density a little compared to benzene: 0.857 vs 0.876. |