New premyrsinane-type diterpene polyesters from Euphorbia falcata

Abstract

Four new premyrsinane-type diterpenes ( 1– 4) were isolated from the methanol extract of the whole, undried plant of Euphorbia falcata. Their structures were determined by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR (COSY, HMBC, HSQC and NOESY) techniques and mass spectral data as di-, tetra-, penta- and hexaesters of diterpene polyols, esterified with acetic, benzoic, propanoic, isobutanoic and n-hexanoic acids. One of the compounds contains a rare hemiacetal moiety. This type of diterpenes was previously detected only in four Euphorbia species ( Euphorbia aleppica, Euphorbia decipiens, Euphorbia macroclada and Euphorbia pithyusa subsp. cupani).