Myrcene, a fragrant compound found in bayberry wax, has the formula C10H16 and is known not to contain any triple bonds.
(a) What is the index of hydrogen deficiency of myrcene? When treated with excess hydrogen and a platinum catalyst, myrcene is converted to a compound (A) with the formula C10H22.
(b) How many rings does myrcene contain?
(c) How many double bonds? Compound A can be identified as 2, 6-dimethyloctane. Ozonolysis of myrcene followed by treatment with dimethyl sulfide yields 2 mol of formaldehyde (HCHO), 1 mol of acetone (CH3COCH3), and a third compound (B) with the formula C5H6O3.
(d) What is the structure of compound B?
(e) What is the structure of myrcene?