New furanosesquiterpenes from Eumorphia species

Eumorphia sericea and E. prostata contained several new furanosesquiterpenes and a new triterpene aldehyde. Structures were elucidated mainly by spectroscopic methods and by some chemical reactions. Structures of three compounds however could not be established with certainty and are partially based on biogenetic considerations. Gymnopentzia bifurcata also contained known furanosesquiterpenes. The number of South African genera from the tribe Anthemideae, where these furanosesquiterpenes are characteristic, has now increased to eight. The importance of these observations for the botanical position of these genera is still not clear.