Diterpene acid structure

About 80% of the diterpene acids of the genus Finns have an abietane skeleton, with abietic acid (structure 3) as the predominant component. Other diterpene acids have a pimarane skeleton (structure 4). All compounds with the abietane skeleton are distinguished by the presence of an isopropyl group. 

From another leguminous plant now classified in the Caesalpiniaceae, Erythrophleum chlorostachys, several alkaloids typified by norerythrostachamine (94) were isolated and their structures elucidated they occur as ethanolamine esters of diterpene acids, but readily rearrange to the corresponding amides [ 111J. These alkaloids are highly toxic and are responsible for cattle poisoning in the Darwin area. 

The assumption of these conjugated double bonds makes possible a tetracyclic nucleus which accords with the suggestion previously made by the authors that these alkaloids might be structurally related to the diterpenes. It may also be noted that one of the nitric acid oxidation products of pseudaconitine has been recorded as unexpectedly giving a pyrrole reaction on destructive distillation. ... 

The GC-MS data (Figure 16.11) of the violet zone of B. carterii revealed that the unchanged diterpenes (verticillatriene, cembrene A, and cembrene C) and the nortriterpenes with carbohydrate structure originated from the pyrolyzed triterpenes (Figure 16.12) of the a- and (3-boswellic acids, named 24-norursa-3,12-diene (compound 7), 24-norursa-3,9(ll),12-triene (compound 8), 24-noroleana-3,12-diene (compound 9), and 24-noroleana-3,9(ll),12-triene (compound 10). 

Head-to-tail rearrangement of four isoprene units results in the formation of diterpenes (C20H32), as seen also in Fig. 4.2. Diterpenes are generally found in resins, e.g. pimaric acid and abietic acid. Some diterpenoids are also constituents of essential oils, e.g. phytol [3, 7-14, 37, 52, 53]. Like sesquiterpenes, diterpenes are heavier than monoterpenes therefore, they require more energy to go to the vapour phase. For this reason, longer distillation times are necessary for their recovery. The DNP lists 118 different structural types for diterpenoids [37]. Important diterpenes found in essential oils will be detailed. Some representatives of volatile diterpenes are as in Structure 4.32. 

Research to date focused on isolating insecticidal prototype leads from marine origin has resulted in the report of about 40 active compounds.44 In an attempt to summarize these compounds and their activity margins, they have been categorized into seven classes of chemical structures polyhalogenated monoterpenes, polyhalogenated C15-metabolites, diterpenes, peptides and amino acids, phosphate esters, sulfur-containing derivatives, and macrolides. 

The isoprene unit exists extensively in nature. It is found in terpenes, camphors, diterpenes (eg, abietic acid), vitamins A and K, chlorophyll, and other compounds isolated from animal and plant materials. The correct structural formula for isoprene was first proposed in 1884 (7). 

Haeuser, J. and Lombard, R., 1961. Isolament et structure d un nouveau diterpene I acide daniellique. Tetrahedron 12, 205-214... 

The abietane diterpene carnosic acid (89), a derivative of ferruginol, is found in the popular Labiatae herb, sage and rosemary and is considered a precursor of other diterpenoid constituents in the herb [20,21]. Wenkert et al [22] have established the structure of carnosic acid (89). Carnosic acid (89) and related diterpenes such as camasol (90) and rosemanol (91) Fig. (11) possess powerful antioxidant activities [23] but carnosic acid (89) is the most powerful potency among these diterpenes. Carnosic acid (89)... 

Four structural types of diterpenes are known from Helianthus labdanes, kauranes, atisiranes and trachylobanes (Figure 2), with the tetracyclic kaurane type being the most widespread in the genus. The majority of Helianthus diterpenes have an Ol-oriented carboxylic acid function attached to carbon 4. 

---