Resinol from the nuts of Semecarpus travancoricus

Abstract

The resinol on treatment with formaldehyde formed thermoplastic products, shining and varying in shades from reddish brown to jet black. The lacquer forming ingredient has been isolated and identified as laccol (3-heptadecadienyl catechol), confirmed by the preparation of its hydrogenated product and its derivatives. The tarry residue, left after vacuum distillation, polymerises on standing to a shining friable mass, soluble in benzene, acetone and chloroform and appears to be a mixture of high molecular phenols.