Cis-1,4-poly-ß-myrcene; the structure of the polymeric fraction of Mastic Resin (Pistacia lentiscus L.) elucidated

The polymer fraction of mastic resin from Pistacia lentiscus L. was isolated and purified by extraction and Size Exclusion Chromatography. The molecular weight distribution of the polymer was broad and stretched up to 100,000 Da. The structure was characterised as 1,4-poly-b-myrcene, predominantly present in the cis-conformation. The compound is the first known example of a naturally occurring polymer of a monoterpene.