Ravid, U., Institute of Field Crops, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, PO Box 90000, Haifa 31900, Israel
Putievsky, E., Institute of Field Crops, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, PO Box 90000, Haifa 31900, Israel
Katzir, I., Institute of Field Crops, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, PO Box 90000, Haifa 31900, Israel
Lewinsohn, E., Institute of Field Crops, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, PO Box 90000, Haifa 31900, Israel
Dudai, N., Institute of Field Crops, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, PO Box 90000, Haifa 31900, Israel

Large quantities of verbenone were observed in three rosemary oils (27.0-28.9%), while in the other rosemary oils analysed the content was 2.3-21.6%. Neat separation of verbenone enantiomers from rosemary essential oils was achieved on a γ-cyclodextrin column. The order of elution of verbenone enantiomers was (1R)(+), (1S)(-) on the γ-cyclodextrin column and the opposite on the β-cyclodextrin column used. The (+)-verbenone in three rosemary oils was 100% enantiomerically pure. In all other rosemary oils the (+)-enantiomer was detected in very high enantiomeric purity (95.9-99.9%).