Bornesitol is an organic compound with the formula . Classified as a cyclitol (cyclic sugar alcohol), it is a methyl ether of D-myo-inositol.
It occurs in relative abundance in the leaves of Hancornia speciosa.
Biosynthesis Both enantiomers of bornesitol are known and are biosynthesised from inositol. Inositol 1-methyltransferase catalyses the reaction:
Inositol 3-methyltransferase catalyses the reaction to the mirror image molecule:
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