Synthesis of highly active juvenile hormone analogs, juvocimene I and II, from the oil of sweet basil,Ocimum basilicum L.

Juvocimene I and II are potent juvenile hormone mimics isolated from the essential oil of sweet basil,Ocimum basilicum L. The structures given by the formula I and II have been confirmed by synthesis withtrans-β-ocimene andp-methoxycinnamyl chloride. Biological activity of the natural and synthetic juvocimenes was found to be identical.