NEW SESQUITERPENE ALPHA-METHYLENE LACTONES FROM THE EGYPTIAN PLANT JASONIA-CANDICANS

Extracts of the plant Jasonia candicans possess antimicrobial activity. ET2O/MeOH extracts were subjected to liquid chromatography, and several sesquiterpenes were isolated and identified including the known compounds confertin [1], 4,11(13)-eudesmadien-12-oic acid [2], and 11-eudesmen-4-ol [3]. Two new diol alpha-methylene lactone antimicrobial agents were identified from nmr and mass spectral data and X-ray crystallography as (4alpha,5alpha,8beta,10beta)-4,10-dihydroxy-1,11(13)-guaidien-12,8-olide [4] and (4alpha,5alpha,8beta,10alpha)-4,10-dihydroxy-1,11(13)-guaidien-12,8-olide [5], which differ in stereochemistry at the C-10 tertiary alcohol center.