Photoelectron spectroscopy of natural products: terpenes

HeI photoelectron spectra of three terpenes: α-pinene, pulegone and cembrene have been measured. The analysis of their electronic structure is based on the comparison of measured spectra with those of related compounds and on the comparison with molecular structures of studied compounds. We discuss changes in ionization energies of C-C double bonds which are situated at different positions along the rings.