Abstract: A process for preparing perillyl alcohol by converting beta-pinene oxide into an alcohol in an acidic reaction medium, esterifying said alcohol to produce a mixture containing perillyl acetate, and hydrolyzing said perillyl acetate to perillyl alcohol.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a moncyclic monoterpene having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R=--C.dbd.CH.sub.2 or --CH--CH.sub.3. which comprises treating limonene in a liquid reaction medium with a strong base followed by addition to the medium of a boron-containing reagent to produce a limonenyl adduct. The adduct is cleaved with an oxidizing agent, diluted with water and an organic solvent to produce a two-phase mixture. The monoterpene is recovered from the organic phase.

Abstract: Bacteria, fungi, or yeast are treated in their habitat with lethal concentrations of limonen-10-ol.

Abstract: A method of killing yeast or fungi which comprises treating the yeast or fungi with a toxic amount of dihydrocarvone.

Abstract: A method of killing yeast or fungi which comprises treating the yeast or fungi with a toxic amount of dihydrocarveol.

Abstract: A method of killing yeast and fungi which comprises treating the yeast and fungi with a toxic amount of carveol.

Abstract: MENTH-1-EN-9-OL kills bacteria, yeasts, and fungi by lysing the cell membrane of the organism.

Abstract: A process for producing a stable, bactericidal and fungicidal composition which consists essentially of bubbling air or oxygen into limonene, to produce an oxidized limonene having a rapid bactericidal activity as evidenced by the capability of killing substantially all of the bacteria in a suitable culture medium inoculated with 10.sup.6 colony forming units of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 per ml. of said broth, containing not more than 0.06 ml of said oxidized limonene per ml. of said broth and incubated at 37.degree. C. in air for 60 minutes.

Abstract: A process for producing a stable, bactericidal and fungicidal composition which consists essentially of bubbling air or oxygen into limonene, to produce an oxidized limonene having a rapid bactericidal activity as evidenced by the capability of killing at least 99.99% of the bacteria in a suitable culture medium inoculated with 10.sup.6 colony forming units of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 per ml.

Abstract: A broad spectrum bactericide, which is bactericidal to bacteria and yeasts in bactericidal concentrations, is perillyl alcohol. Also a method of killing bacteria includes the treatment of bacteria with bactericidal concentrations of perillyl alcohol. The bacteria are selected from a goup consisting of Staphylococcus, Billus, Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococcus, Xanthomonas, and Mycobacteria. Also yeasts may be killed by treatment thereof with bactericidal concentrations of perillyl alcohol.