Biomimetic Transformation of p‑Menthene Glucosides into p‑Cymenes and Carvotanacetone

A biomimetic transformation of p-menthene glucosides into aromatic monoterpenoids that alluded to mechanisms for essential oil metabolism, which lines up with the precepts of molecular economy, is described. Acid treatment of (−)-(3S,4S,6R)-3,6-dihydroxy-1-menthene 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1) and (−)-(3S,4R,5R,6S)-3,5,6-trihydroxy-1-menthene 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), from Ageratina glabrata, yielded p-cymene (7) and carvacrol (9). The stable oxidized intermediates (+)-(3S,4S,6R)-3,6-dihydroxy-1-menthene (3), (+)-(1S,4S,6R)-1,6-dihydroxy-2-menthene (4), (+)-(1R,4S,6R)-1,6-dihydroxy-2-menthene (5), (+)-(4S,6R)-yabunikkeol (6), (+)-(4S)-carvotanacetone (8), (+)-(1S,4S,5R,6R)-1,5,6-trihydroxy-2-menthene (15), (+)-(1R,4S,5R,6R)-1,5,6-trihydroxy-2-menthene (16), and the new (+)-(4S,5R,6S)-1­(7),2-menthadiene (17) permitted establishment of the reaction mechanisms. The reactivity of the hydroxy groups of 4 and 5, as well as those of 15 and 16, was compared by acetylation reactions and supported by DFT calculations, revealing diminished reactivity in 4 and 15 due to the cis configuration of their hydroxy groups at C-1 and C-6. In addition, p-cymene (7) was detected as one of the major constituents of the essential oil of A. glabrata, which matches well with the biomimetic study.