Sesquiterpenes and alkaloids from Cleistopholis patens

The root bark of Cleistopholis patens collected in Ghana yielded two sesquiterpenes and five alkaloids. The sesquiterpenes have been characterised as the acyclic methyl-(?)-(trans)-(trans)-10,11-dihydroxyfarnesoate and its monocyclic derivative methyl-(+)-10-hydroxy-6,11-cyclofarnes-7(14)-enoate. The alkaloids were of the unusual aza-polycyclic and naphthyridine groups and included one new member of both classes. Examination of stem bark samples from the same source and from Sierre Leone showed the presence of the sesquiterpenes and the oxoaporphine alkaloid liriodenine but neither of the rarer alkaloid types.