Limonene is an optically active hydrocarbon whose D-isomer possesses a strong smell of oranges. The name suggests it to be an alkene and since it is found in large concentration on the peel of lemons, it is named limonene. It is a cyclic terpene and is used in the synthesis of carvone which is used in the food industry and also in the flavour industry.
The fact that limonene cracks to form isoprene at very high temperatures suggsest that it is a product of the Diels Alder reaction between two isoprene units.
Limonene is also used in food industry and also in some medicines.
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