Ambrein

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Ambrein
Names
IUPAC name
(1R,2R,4aS,8aS)-1-{(3E)-6-[(1S)-2,2-dimethyl-6-methylidenecyclohexyl]-4-methylhex-3-en-1-yl}-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyldecahydronaphthalen-2-ol
Other names
Ambrein
Identifiers
3D model (
JSmol
)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard
100.006.784 Edit this at Wikidata
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C30H52O/c1-22(15-16-24-23(2)13-10-18-27(24,3)4)12-9-14-26-29(7)20-11-19-28(5,6)25(29)17-21-30(26,8)31/h12,24-26,31H,2,9-11,13-21H2,1,3-8H3/b22-12+/t24-,25?,26-,29+,30-/m1/s1 checkY
    Key: BIADSXOKHZFLSN-CQDHYIGWSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C30H52O/c1-22(15-16-24-23(2)13-10-18-27(24,3)4)12-9-14-26-29(7)20-11-19-28(5,6)25(29)17-21-30(26,8)31/h12,24-26,31H,2,9-11,13-21H2,1,3-8H3/b22-12+/t24-,25?,26-,29+,30-/m1/s1
    Key: BIADSXOKHZFLSN-CQDHYIGWBE
  • C/C(=C\CC[C@@H]1[C@]2(CCCC(C2CC[C@@]1(C)O)(C)C)C)/CC[C@@H]3C(=C)CCCC3(C)C
  • O[C@@]1(CCC3[C@]([C@H]1CC\C=C(/C)CC[C@@H]2C(=C)\CCCC2(C)C)(C)CCCC3(C)C)C
Properties
C30H52O
Molar mass 428.745 g·mol−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Ambrein is a

ambroxan
and is thought to possess fixative properties for other odorants.

It has been shown to act as an analgesic[2] and has been proven to increase sexual behavior in rats,[3] providing some support for its traditional aphrodisiac use.

Apart from its supposed aphrodisiac effects, ambrein has been shown to decrease spontaneous contractions of smooth muscles in rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. It reduces these contractions by serving as an antagonist and interfering with Ca2+ ions from outside the cell.[4]

Discovery

In 1946, Ruzicka and Lardon "established that the fragrance of ambergris is based on the triterpene (named) ambrein".[5][6][7]

Biosynthesis

Ambrein is synthesized from the common triterpenoid precursor squalene. The squalene-hopene cyclase (SHC) catalyzes the cyclization of squalene into the monocyclic 3-deoxyachilleol A. Tetraprenyl-beta-curcumene synthase (BmeTC) converts 3-deoxyachilleol A into the tricyclic ambrein.[8]

References

Biosynthetic pathway of Ambrein