Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry

Terpenoid (isoprenoid): A molecule structurally similar to a terpene, except having a number of carbons atoms that is not a multiple of five (i.e., cannot be built exclusively from isoprene units), or whose skeleton has been modified in some way (such as oxidation).


Limonene is a terpene, derived from biosynthetic combination of two isoprene units.		Menthol is a terpenoid. Its hydroxyl group is not derived directly from isoprene; it must be added by some oxidation process.

Related terms: Carvone, isopentenyl pyrophosphate, IPP, dimethylallyl pyrophosphate, DMAPP, monoterpene, sesquiterpene, diterpene, hemiterpene, sesterterpene, triterpene, tetraterpene, polyterpene
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