This introductory textbook provides a perfectly structured and concise overview of this fascinating class of natural products, together with their major applications. It covers both the structure, natural sources, biological and pharmacological effects, as well as selected total syntheses and important industrial syntheses for odorous substances and vitamin A.
The book includes sections on biogenesis, polycyclic terpenes, gingkoloids and neo-hopanes, among others.

From the contents:
* Significance, structure and biosynthesis of terpenes
* Hemi-, mono-, sesqui-, di-, sester-, tri-, tetra- and polyterpenes
* Biological, olfactorial and pharmacological properties
* Selected terpene syntheses
* Isolation and structure determination of terpenes

For students of chemistry, biochemistry, biology and pharmacy, as well as ideal for anybody starting work in this field.

Eberhard Breitmaier received his PhD at the University of Tübingen, Germany, as a member of the research group of Ernst Bayer. After a postdoctoral stay followed by a position as assistant professor at the University of Houston, Texas, he returned to Tübingen to gain his lecturing qualification in 1971. He was Professor for Organic and Analytical Chemistry at the University of Bonn from 1975 until 2004. His research focuses on 3-alkoxyacroleine as a reagent for chemical syntheses, porphyrinoid annulenes and natural products. Professor Breitmaier has authored many scientific publications and several textbooks on NMR-spectroscopy, organic chemistry and natural products.