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What is a terpenoid?

Is it something like a 5-carbon chain attached to an oxygen containing group, with some double bonds?

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    5-carbon chain---yes

    oxygen--- No

    with some double bonds--Yes

    Terpenoids (or isoprenoids), a subclass of the prenyllipids (terpenes, prenylquinones, and sterols), represent the oldest group of small molecular products synthesized by plants and are probably the most widespread group of natural products.

    Terpenoids can be described as modified terpenes, where methyl groups are moved or removed, or oxygen atoms added. Inversely, some authors use the term "terpenes" more .

    They may be defined as a group of molecules whose structure is based on a various but definite number of isoprene units (methylbuta-1,3-diene, named hemiterpene, with 5 carbon atoms).

    http://www.cyberlipid.org/simple/simp0004.htm

    Source(s): Google...........
  • 1 decade ago

    doctor answered it spot-on.

  • 1 decade ago

    Terpenoids can be thought of as modified terpenes, wherein methyl groups have been moved or removed, or oxygen atoms added. (Some authors use the term "terpene" more broadly, to include the terpenoids.)

    Terpenes are hydrocarbons resulting from the combination of several isoprene units.

    Isoprene is a common synonym for the chemical compound 2-methylbuta-1,3-diene.

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