Sesquiterpene and diterpene derivatives from Solidago species

The investigation of four Solidago species afforded, in addition to known compounds, four new caryophyllene derivatives, two eudesmanes, two abietanes, a clerodane, two labdanes, three kauranes and an anol angelate. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and by some chemical transformations. While the diterpenes isolated are widespread in the genus Solidago, the sesquiterpenes have not been obtained before from any species. The overall picture of the large genus, however, is relatively uniform.     

Sesquiterpene lactones,geranylnerol and tremetone derivatives from Ageratina species

The investigation of two further Ageratina species afforded, in addition to known compounds, some new ones, a germacrolide, a heliangolide, a guaianolide, a geranylnerol derivative and a tremetone derivative.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Centaurea species

The investigation of further Centaurea species gave, in addition to known compounds, one new sesquiterpene lactone, 11β, 15-dihydroxysaussurea lactone, of the elemanolide type.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Brachylaena species

The investigation of two Brachylaena species afforded in addition to known sesquiterpene lactones and other constituents five new lactones, a germacranolide, a guaianolide and three eudesmanolides. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The chemotaxonomy of this complex genus is discussed.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Viguiera species

Viguiera eriophora yielded the sesquiterpene lactones erioflorin, acetylerioflorin and 17,18-dehydroviguiepinin, which was correlated with tetrahyd     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Eremanthus species

The investigation of three Eremanthus species afforded, in addition to known compounds, several new sesquiterpenelactones, a cumambrin B isobutyrate, four lactones related to the eremantholides, two to zexbrevin and one to goyazensolide. Furthermore, a new coniferyl alcohol derivative was isolated. The overall picture of the genus is very uniform. The occurrence of eremanthine and germacranolides with a furanone ring seems to be especially typical.     

Sesquiterpene lactones from Mikania species

The aerial parts of Mikania guaco afforded in addition to a known eudesmanolide three new ones. The aerial parts of M. vitifolia gave two guaianolides, both being 3-chlorodehydroleudocin derivatives and a seco-germacranolide related to pycnolide. The structures were elucidated by highfield NMR techniques. The proposed position of the hydroxyl group in a chloroguaianolide from a Lasiolaena species has to be revised.     

Sesquiterpene lactones and eudesmane derivatives from Onopordon carmanicum

The aerial parts of Onopordon carmanicum afforded in addition to onopordopicrin and two related esters the epoxide of onopordopicrin, a new elemane derivative, two eudesmanolides and two eudesmane derivatives which most likely are the precursors of the latter lactones. The structures were elucidated by highfield NMR spectroscopy.     

Sesquiterpene lactones and other constituents from Schistostephium species

From four Schistostephium species, in addition to known compounds, 43 new ones were isolated, three isocomene, two bisabolene, two eudesmane, two allo-himachalene and two nerolidol derivatives, two sesquiterpenes with a new carbon skeleton derived from isocomene, nine eudesmanolides, 20 6,12- and 8,12-germacranolides respectively, and a prostaglandin-like acid. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, especially high field ¹H NMR and some chemical transformations. The stereochemistry of some 8,12-germacranolides was established by partial synthesis which required revision of the previous assignments of the configuration of inunolide, its 4,5- and 1,10-epoxide, vernudifloride, simsiolide, 6-hydroxy-1,10-epoxyinunolide and perhaps also of tanachin. The chemotaxonomic situation is discussed briefly.     

Insecticidal pyrido[1,2-a]azepine alkaloids and related derivatives from Stemona species

Eight new alkaloids, the pyrido[1,2-a]azepines stemokerrin, methoxystemokerrin-N-oxide, oxystemokerrin, oxystemokerrin-N-oxide, and pyridostemin, along with the pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepines dehydroprotostemonine, oxyprotostemonine, and stemocochinin were isolated from four Stemona species together with the known compounds protostemonine, stemofoline, 2'-hydroxystemofoline, and parvistemonine. Their structures were elucidated by 1H and 13C NMR including 2D methods and two key compounds additionally by X-ray diffraction. Besides the formation of a six membered piperidine ring, additional oxygen bridges and N-oxides contributed to structural diversity. The co-occurrence of pyrrolo- and pyridoazepines suggested biosynthetic connections starting from more widespread protostemonine type precursors. Bioassays with lipophilic crude extracts against Spodoptera littoralis displayed very strong insecticidal activity for the roots of S. curtisii and S. cochinchinensis, moderate activity for S. kerrii, but only weak effects for the unidentified species HG 915. The insect toxicity was mainly caused by the accumulation of stemofoline, oxystemokerrin, and dehydroprotostemonine displaying two different modes of action. Based on the various insecticidal activities of 13 derivatives structure-activity relationships became apparent.     

Labdane derivatives from hemizonia species

The investigation of three Hemizonia species afforded in addition to known compounds seven new labdane derivatives, all derived from labd-13-en-15-ol. The absolute configuration of these diterpenes was determined by degradation of the triol by periodate cleavage, which afforded a known norditerpene ketone. From H. fitchii two new chromene esters and the cis-isomer of a known coumarate were isolated. H. congesta afforded in addition to labdane derivatives a hydroxycubebol.     

Sesquisabinene derivatives from Haplocarpha species

The roots of two Haplocarpha species afforded, in addition to sesquisabinene itself, three of its derivatives.     

Eremophilane derivatives from Senecio species

The investigation of two further Senecio species afforded two new furanoeremophilanes, four eremophilanolides and a new hydroxyeremophilane. The structures of two furanoeremophilane, isolated before, have been revised.     

Eudesmane derivatives from Verbesina species

The investigation of seven Verbesina species afforded, in addition to known compounds, several new eudesmane and germacrane derivatives, all bearing a cinnamate or derivatives as residue. Furthermore, a new bisabolene aldehyde and two acetophenone derivatives were isolated. The structures were elucidated mainly by spectroscopic methods and some chemical transformations. The chemotaxonomic situation is discussed briefly.     

Trixikingolides and germacrene derivatives from Trixis species

The investigation of two further Trixis species afforded five new sesquiterpenes related to trixikingolide, six new germacrene derivatives and a sesquiterpene derived from rotundene. Some further known compounds were isolated too, which in part may be of chemotaxonomic significance. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and a few chemical transformations. The relative position of the ester groups in eight of the new sesquiterpenoids however, could not be established with certainty as partial saponifications were not successful.     

Thirteen kolavane derivatives from Symphyopappus species

The aerial parts of Symphyopappus compressus afrorded three new kolavane derivatives and those of S. reticulatus ten diterpenes of this type, two of them esterified with long chain fatty acids. Furthermore, a dihydroxyphenylpropanol, also esterified with long chain fatty acids, was present in both species. The roots of S. reticulatus afforded a new tremetone derivative. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and some chemical transformations.     

Benzofuran derivatives from two Encelia species

From Encelia actoni and E. virginensis two new benzofuran esters could be isolated. The unusual structure of the skeleton comprises an acetyl group at C-2 of the furan ring.     

Sesquiterpene lactones and species relationships among the shrubby Ambrosia taxa

The sesquiterpene lactone chemistry, chromosome numbers and morphology of selected Sonoran Desert Ambrosia taxa are reported. The sesquiterpene lactone distribution correlates with morphologically defined species groups.     

Caryophyllene derivatives and a heliangolide from Lychnophora species

The investigation of three Lychnophora species afforded three new caryophyllenic acids and a new heliangolide closely related to 15-desoxygoyazensiolide. All three species contain lupeol, lupeyl acetate and eremanthine. The chemotaxonomic situation is discussed briefly.