title: Gurjunene
text: # Gurjunene
  
  Gurjunene, also known as (-)-α-gurjunene, is a natural carbotricyclic sesquiterpene that is most commonly found in gurjun balsam, an essential oil compound extracted from plants of the genus Dipterocarpus. The following reaction that synthesizes gurjunene can be catalyzed by alpha-gurjunene synthase:
  
     (2E,6E)-farnesyl diphosphate $\rightleftharpoons$ (–)-α-gurjunene + diphosphate
  
  ## Related compounds
  
  Several related compounds are known, including β-gurjunene and γ-gurjunene.
  
  