Volatile components of Douglas fir needles

Volatile components of needles of Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, isolated by steam distillation and ether extraction, were separated by repetitive gas chromatography on dissimilar substrates, utilizing both packed and wide-bore capillary columns. Individual components were characterized by relative retentions on several columns, Kovats' indices, and infrared spectroscopy. Compounds identified include α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, 3-carene, myrcene, limonene, 2-hexenal, ethyl caproate, γ-terpinene, terpinolene, ethyl caprylate, citronellal, linalool, fenchyl alcohol, bornyl acetate, terpinen-4-ol, β-caryophyllene, citronellyl acetate, α-terpineol, citronellol, geranyl acetate, and farnesyl acetate; p-cymene and farnesol were identified on the basis of relative retentions only. Infrared spectra were obtained for two additional terpene alcohols and an aromatic alcohol which could not be identified.