Terpenoid Chemistry. XI. (—)-β-Sesquiphellandrene

A new natural sesquiterpene, (—)-β-sesquiphellandrene, has been isolated from oil of ginger by distillation and chromatography on silver-nitrate-treated alumina. The structure deduced from spectral data has been confirmed by isomerization to zingiberene. (—)-β-Sesquiphellandrene is (1’R, 6S)-2-methy1-6-(4’-methylene-cyclohex-2’-enyl)hept-2-ene.