Chem. [a. F. térébenthène, f. F. térébenth-ine, ad. L. terebinthina (rēsīna): see TEREBINTHINE, TURPENTINE; with sufix -ENE as in BENZENE.] Name given by Berthelot to the TERPENE which forms the chief constituent of French turpentine-oil, obtained from Pinus Pinaster (P. maritima).
Terebenthene is the lævorotary form of pinene, and is now usually called lævopinene, as distinguished from dextropinene, the chief constituent of American turpentine oil (that most used in England), obtained from Pinus australis, whence formerly called Austroterebenthene and Australene.
1857. Miller, Elem. Chem., III. 439. According to Berthelot, if the ordinary Bordeaux turpentine be distilled in vacuo, after saturating the acids which it contains, a homogeneous hydrocarbon, terebenthene,… is obtained.
1873. Roscoe, Elem. Chem., 426. The best known natural varieties are terebenthene from Pinus maritima … possessing a left-handed rotation of –42° 3′, and Austroterebenthene from Pinus australis.
