CUPRESSENE AND OTHER DITERPENES OF CUPRESSUS SPECIES

Cupressene, as originally isolated from Cupressus macrocarpa, is shown to be a 1: 2 mixture of (+)- isophyllocladene with (+)-isohibaene (13α-beyer-15-ene) rather than with (-)-hibaene (beyer-15-ene) as previously claimed. Corrections to the optical rotations of (+)-phyllocladinol and (-)-abieta- 7, 13-diene and g.l.c. data for diterpene hydrocarbons are reported. Analysis of the diterpene hydrocarbon composition of the foliage of 27 specimens from four Cupressus species reveals significant regularities. © 1979 ASEG.