No abstract

The stems of Bursera suntui afforded two new verticillane derivatives, (1S,3Z,7E,11S,12S)-(+)-verticilla-3,7-dien-12,20-diol (1) and (1S,3Z,7E,11S,12S)-(+)-verticilla-3,7-dien-12,20-diol 20-acetate (2), together with (1S,3E,7E,11R)-(+)-verticilla-3,7,12(18)-triene (3), (1R,3E,7E,11R,12Z)-(+)-verticilla-3,7,12-triene (4), (1R,7E,11Z)-(-)-verticilla-4(20),7,11-triene (5), and (1S,3E,7E,11S,12S)-(+)-verticilla-3,7-dien-12-ol (6). Compounds 3 and 4 are new enantiomerically pure natural products whose racemic mixtures, derived from synthetic approaches toward the taxane skeleton, were obtained previously. The stems of Bursera kerberi afforded the new (1S,3E,7E,11S,12R)-(+)-verticilla-3,7-dien-12-ol (7) together with 3-5. This is the first time that verticillane derivatives have been isolated from the genus Bursera. Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR data, including COSY, NOESY, HSQC, and HMBC experiments, while the absolute configuration was determined by comparison of the optical rotatory dispersion data with that of recently revised (1S,3E,7E,11S,12S)-(+)-verticilla-3,7-dien-12-ol (6), obtained from Sciadopitys verticillata, and those of (1R,3E,7E,11R,12R)-(-)-verticilla-3,7-dien-12-ol (8) and (1R,3E,7E,11R,12S)-(-)-verticilla-3,7-dien-12-ol (9), isolated from the liverwort Jackiella javanica. The conformational preferences of 1-7 were studied by molecular mechanics modeling employing the Monte Carlo protocol.

Good agreement between theoretical and experimental vibrational circular dichroism curves of (1S,11S,12S)-(+)-verticilla-3E,7E-dien-12-ol (1) established the absolute configuration of this natural diterpene isolated from Bursera suntui. Molecular modeling of 1 was carried out using the Monte Carlo protocol followed by geometry optimization at the B3LYP 6-31G(d,p) level of theory. The 12-membered ring of 1 was found in a single preferred chair−chair−chair−chair conformation. In the six-membered ring a chair prevails over a distorted boat, and the C−OH bond rotation generates three predominant rotamers. Validation of the minimum energy conformation for 1 was achieved by comparison of theoretical and experimental infrared frequencies, vicinal 1H NMR coupling constants, and X-ray diffraction data. This study confirms that (+)-verticillol 1 isolated from Bursera species has the 1S,11S,12S absolute configuration that corresponds to the same enantiomeric series as verticillanes from Sciadopitys and Taxus, while verticillanes from Jackiella and Jungermannia have antipodal structures.

The polyoxygenated longipinane derivatives 1- 8 were tested as antifeedant compounds against the herbivorous insects Spodoptera littoralis, Rhopalosiphum padi, and Myzus persicae. Compounds 1-3 and 8 exhibited significant antifeedant activity against S. littoralis and M. persicae. The antifeedant activity against S. littoralis increased moderately after the C-8 hydroxy group in 3 was removed to afford 1 and increased strongly after the remaining two hydroxy groups were acetylated to afford 2. Compound 1 was active on M. persicae. Compounds 1, 3, and 4, with an unsaturated six-membered ring, exhibited an increase in post-ingestive effects on S. littoralis ranging from antifeedant in the case of 1 to toxic for compounds 3 and 4. These compounds did not have any phytotoxic effect on Lactuca sativa. When tested on a panel of tumoral cells, compounds 2 and 6 exhibited moderate selective cytotoxic effects on the p53 null lung carcinoma cells H1299, which were not affected by the drug paclitaxel. In addition, vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) was applied to the representative longipinene derivative 2 to verify its absolute configuration, and the sensitivity of the VCD methodology was evaluated by comparing spectra of the three diastereoisomers (4 R,5 S,7 R,9 R,10 R,11 R)-7,9-diacetyloxylongipin-2-en-1-one (2), (4 R,5 S,7 S,9 R,10 R,11 R)-7,9-diacetyloxylongipin-2-en-1-one, and (4 R,5 S,7 R,9 S,10 R,11 R)-7,9-diacetyloxylongipin-2-en-1-one.