Orcinol is an organic compound with the formula CH3C6H3(OH)2. It occurs in many species of lichens[1] including Roccella tinctoria and Lecanora. Orcinol has been detected in the "toxic glue" of the ant species Camponotus saundersi. It is a colorless solid. It is related to resorcinol, 1,3-C6H4(OH)2.
Orcinol was first prepared by dehydroacetic acid, a conversion that involved ring-opening of the pyrone to a triketone. This early experiment helped establish the rich condensation chemistry of polyketides.[2]
It can be obtained by fusing extract of aloes with potash,[3] followed by acidification.
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Production from shale oil
Orcinol is also found in shale oil produced from Kukersite oil shale.[5] It is the main water-soluble phenol in the oil, and has been extracted and refined industrially by Viru Keemia Grupp.[6]
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