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L-menthol

File:Menthol_skeletal.svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

EntityQ407418· pop 54· linked from 2,196 articles

Also known as menthol, (1R,2S,5R)-(-)-menthol, levomenthol, (1R,3R,4S)-(-)-menthol, L-(-)-menthol, (-)-(1R,3R,4S)-menthol, 5-methyl-2-propan-2-ylcyclohexan-1-ol

Menthol is a monoterpenoid organic compound that occurs naturally in the oils of certain plants in the mint family, such as corn mint and peppermint. It is a white or clear waxy crystalline substance that is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above. The main form of menthol occurring in nature is (−)-menthol, which is assigned the (1R,2S,5R) configuration.

AI overview

L-menthol is a waxy crystalline compound found naturally in mint plant oils, most commonly in peppermint and corn mint, that is solid at room temperature. It's the primary form of menthol that occurs in nature and has applications in food, medicine, and consumer products due to its cooling and flavoring properties.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Chemical data

Formula
C10H20O
Molecular weight
156.26 g/mol
IUPAC name
(1R,2S,5R)-5-methyl-2-propan-2-ylcyclohexan-1-ol
SMILES
C[C@@H]1CC[C@H]([C@@H](C1)O)C(C)C
InChIKey
NOOLISFMXDJSKH-KXUCPTDWSA-N
XLogP
3
Polar surface area
20.2 Ų
H-bond donors
1
H-bond acceptors
1
Formal charge
0

via PubChem

Wikidata facts

Has part
hydrogen
Mass
156.151415
Image
Menthol substance photo.jpg
Has use
medication
Show 14 more facts
found in taxon
Artemisia maritima
density
0.89
boiling point
212
flash point
93
Commons category
Menthol
canonical SMILES
CC1CCC(C(C1)O)C(C)C
chemical formula
C₁₀H₂₀O
medical condition treated
skin disease
World Health Organisation international non-proprietary name
levomenthol
isomeric SMILES
CC(C)[C@@H]1CC[C@@H](C)C[C@H]1O
NCI Thesaurus ID
C61809
MCN code
2906.11.00
melting point
44.0
has characteristic
bitterness
Sources (3)

via Wikidata · CC0

~13 min read

Encyclopedic overview

18 sections
Contents
  • Structure
  • Biological properties
  • Occurrence
  • Biosynthesis
  • Production
  • Applications
  • Cosmetic
  • Medical
  • Others
  • Organic chemistry
  • Reactions
  • History
  • Compendial status
  • Safety
  • See also
  • References
  • Further reading
  • External links

Menthol is a monoterpenoid organic compound that occurs naturally in the oils of certain plants in the mint family, such as corn mint and peppermint. It is a white or clear waxy crystalline substance that is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above. The main form of menthol occurring in nature is (−)-menthol, which is assigned the (1R,2S,5R) configuration.

For many people, menthol produces a cooling sensation when inhaled, eaten, or applied to the skin, and mint plants have been used for centuries for topical pain relief and as a food flavoring. Menthol has local anesthetic and counterirritant qualities, and it is widely used to relieve minor throat irritation.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “L-menthol” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

Gallery (31)