The chemistry of vetivalene-type naturally occurring sesquiterpenoids

Vetivalene, 1,4-dimethyl-6-isopropylnaphthalene (1) represents a new sesquiterpene skeleton which will presumed to originate from eudesmane by a shift of the angular methyl group. Novel sesquiterpenes related to vetivalene have been isolated from plain source in recent years. A survey dealing with the chemistry (structure, synthesis and configuration) of members of this interesting new class or sesquiterpenes, comprising occidol, rishitinol and the various emmotins is presented.