The initial step of the mechanism of the OH + beta-pinene gas-phase reaction was investigated by means of ab initio calculations. Four different possibilities for the OH addition to the double bond are discussed, corresponding to the addition on each C atom of the double bond, and for each one, either the syn or anti OH attack to the two methyl groups on the (bi)cyclic molecule. Energy barriers calculated at the QCISD(T)/6-31G(d) level of theory on UMP2/6-31G(d) optimised structures, show that there are preferred orientations for the OH addition under atmospheric conditions of temperature and pressure. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.