What is "coniferyl alcohol"

n. (context organic compound English) A monolignol, ''4-(3-hydroxy-1-propenyl)-2-methoxyphenol'', found in many plants

Coniferyl alcohol is an organic compound. This colourless crystalline solid is a phytochemical, one of the monolignols. It is synthethized via the phenylpropanoid biochemical pathway. When copolymerized with related aromatic compounds, coniferyl alcohol forms lignin or lignans. Coniferin is a glucoside of coniferyl alcohol.

Coniferyl alcohol is an intermediate in biosynthesis of eugenol and of stilbenoids and coumarin. Gum benzoin contains significant amount of coniferyl alcohol and its esters.

It is found in both gymnosperm and angiosperm plants. Sinapyl alcohol and paracoumaryl alcohol, the other two lignin monomers, are found in angiosperm plants and grasses.

It is a queen retinue pheromone (QRP), a type of honey bee pheromone found in the mandibular glands.