Abstract: Myrtanol was prepared via hydroboration-oxidation reaction from β-pinene, then eight novel carboxylic myrtanyl esters (myrtanyl acetate(4a), myrtanyl propionate(4b), myrtanyl butyrate(4c), myrtanyl valerate(4d), myrtanyl cyclohexanecarboxylate(4e), myrtanyl benzoate(4f), myrtanyl p-methylbenzoate(4g) and myrtanyl p-methoxybenzoate(4h) were obtained through the reaction of myrtanol and carboxylic acids using N, N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide/dimethylaminopyridine (DCC/DMAP) as catalyst.Structure characterizations were achieved by FT-IR, ¹H NMR and ESI-MS.Antibacterial activity assays were carried out by agar dilution method.The results showed that compounds 4b, 4c, 4f, 4g and 4h exhibited inhibitory activities (MIC was 256 mg/L) against the Gram positive bacterial Staphylococcus aureus, and compounds 4a, 4b, 4c and 4e exhibited inhibitory activities (MICs were ranged from 128 to 256 mg/L) against the Gram negative bacterial Escherichia coli.more importantly.Compound 4a showed comparable activity (MIC was 128 mg/L) to that of bromogeramine against E.coli.Comparing with the starting compound β-pinene and the intermediate myrtanol, this series of esters showed better antibacterial activities.

Key words: turpentine, β-pinene, myrtanol, ester, antibacterial