Asked by Olivia Farley on Sep 23, 2024
Verified
The following natural product has been examined for cytotoxic activity. How should this natural product be classified? 
A) monoterpene
B) sesquiterpene
C) diterpene
D) triterpene
Cytotoxic Activity
The ability of a substance to kill or inhibit the growth of cells, often used in the context of cancer therapy.
Natural Product
Chemical compounds produced by living organisms, often used in pharmaceuticals, as agrochemicals, and in food additives.
- Acquire the ability to categorize compounds as terpenes through the application of the isoprene rule and by determining the count of isoprene units present.
- Understand the structure and classification of natural products based on their isoprene units.
Verified Answer
DW
DropIt with MahamAzhar Azhar7 days ago
Final Answer :
B
Explanation :
The structure of the natural product in the image contains 15 carbon atoms, indicating that it is likely a sesquiterpene, which contains 3 isoprene units (C5H8) and 15 total carbon atoms. Monoterpenes have 2 isoprene units and diterpenes have 4. Triterpenes have 6 isoprene units, which would result in a larger molecular weight and more complex structure than the natural product shown. The cytotoxic activity of the natural product is not relevant to its classification as a sesquiterpene.
Learning Objectives
- Acquire the ability to categorize compounds as terpenes through the application of the isoprene rule and by determining the count of isoprene units present.
- Understand the structure and classification of natural products based on their isoprene units.