Nerol

Nerol is a monoterpene found in many essential oils such as lemongrass and hops. It was originally isolated from neroli oil, hence its name. This colourless liquid is used in perfumery. Like geraniol, nerol has a sweet rose odor but it is considered to be fresher.

Isomeric with nerol is geraniol, wherein the double bond is trans. Nerol readily loses water to form dipentene. Nerol can be synthesized by pyrolysis of beta-pinene, which affords myrcene. Hydrochlorination of myrcene gives a series of isomeric chlorides, one of which converts to neryl acetate.