New sterpurane and isolactarane sesquiterpenes from the fungus merulius tremellosus

New sterpurane and isolactarane sesquiterpenes from the fungus merulius tremellosus

w4&4020/90 S3.OOf 00 Pergamon Press plc Tmahedron Vol. 46. No. 7. pp. 2389-2400, 1990 Prmled in Great Bntam NEW STERPURANE AND ISOLACTARANB SESQUITE...

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w4&4020/90 S3.OOf 00 Pergamon Press plc

Tmahedron Vol. 46. No. 7. pp. 2389-2400, 1990 Prmled in Great Bntam

NEW STERPURANE AND ISOLACTARANB SESQUITERPENES PROM THE FUNGUS JVIERULIUSTRE0. Steme&*, T. Ankeb, W.S. Sheldrickc and W. Steglichd aDivision of Organic Chemistry, Lund Institute of Technology, P.O.B. 124, S-221 00 Lund (Sweden), bAbteilung Biotechnologie der Universitit Kaiserslautern, Paul-EhrlichStral3e 23, D-6750 Kaiserslautem (PRG). cLehtstuhl ftlr Analytische Chemie, Ruhr-Universitit Bochum, Universitittsstrage 150, D-4630 Bochum 1 (PRG), and dbrstitut filr Organ&he Chemie und Biochemie des Universitit Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-St (Received

in Germany 30 November

1, D-5300 BOM (FRG) 1989)

,$&xJ : Sterpuraneand isolactarane sesquiterpenes have been isolated from a culture of the fungus hlerulius m. The structums of all compounds have been determined by spectroscopic methods, mass and NMR spectroscopy and X-ray structural analyses, and by chemical conversions. Compounds la, 7a, Sa, 9a, 11 and 13 were identified in the cultural fluid, and compounds 7a, 12a and W in the mycelium. The absolute configuration of the sterpurane 7a was obtained by X-ray structural analysis of the chlomacetylated derivative 7d.

The sesquiterpene merulidial la, isolated from ethyl acetate extracts of submerged cultures of the fungus lvlerulius txemella

(Pr.),t exhibits antimicrobial, cytotoxic and mutagenic activities.23 It shams its unsaturated

dialdehyde functionality with a number of other biologically active &penes, isolated from various organisms like fungi, plants, termites and molluscs~~ which in some cases have been suggested to utilize the unsaturated dialdehydes in natural chemical defense systems. The isolactarane skeleton of merulidial la is less common; the only isolactarane sesquiterpenes reported so far ate shown in Scheme 1. Isolactarorufin 2 was isolated from fruit bodies of &@rius

rufus6 and L. vellereus.7 while sterepolide 3 and dihydrosterepolide 4 were isolated from

the fungus &reum

~ur~ureun~.*

1

2

Scheme 1

3

a : R=H, b : R=COCH3

4

2390

0. STERNERet al.

The biosynthesis of the isolactaranes has not been investigated in detail, but they have been suggested to be humulene derived via the pmtoilludane cation 5 and the sterpurane cationa 6 (the latter formed by sliding of the cyclobutane ring9Jo of 5). The isolation of stempolide 3 and dihydrosterepohde 4 together with several sterpuranes from saJlJ2 supports this suggestion. However, isolactaromfii 2 was isolated from fruit bodies of Lactarius

and L., species that normally produce mamsma~, lactarane and secolactarane sesquiterpenes.l3 No sterpurane sesquiterpenes have so far been isolated from any &h&s

species, and the possibility that an alternative route to the isolactaranes exists must be considered. A marasmane sesquiterpene with a positive charge on C-7 appears to be an inmrmediate in the biosynthesis of the Lacauius sesquiterpenes,l4 and one possibility is that the isolactarane skeleton is formed via this cation by sliding of the cyclopropane ring (similar to the conversion of 5 to 6 mentioned above).

d?+7

5

6

isolactarane

lactarane

secolactarane

1

ti-

7

marasmane

Scheme 2

In order to investigate the natum of the sesquiterpenoids formed together with merulidial la in cultures of a _g, we have in detail analyzed EtOAc extracts of both the culture medium and the mycelium. The fungus was grown in a 100 1 fermentor as described previously,~ and the culture medium and the mycelium were separated by filtration. The culture. medium was extracted immediately with EtOAc while the mycelium was lyophilized prior to extraction with EtOAc. Approximately 50 % of the EtOAc extract of the cultum medium consisted of fats, and the majority (3 g) of the remainings was merulidial la. Besides merulidial la, 600 mg tmmdioll5 7a, 60 mg a-1-bisabolol13 (identified by spectral comparison with an co mmercial sample obtained from the company Colimex, Koln, and by its optical rotation 16 [a],, -52O,c 3.8 in chloroform). 30 mg merulanic acid*5 !%I(isolated as the methyl ester SC),20 mg merulactone 15 11,and 15 mg tremetriol*~8a were isolated by

2391

New sterpurane and isolactarane sesquiterpenes

column chromatography on silica gel. Of these compounds, only bisabol0113 (SOmg) and trembdi017a (10 mg) were found to be present in the mycelium as well as in the cultute medium. No traces of mendid% la could be

detected by TLC analysis of the mycelium extract, which is somewhat unexpected as the concentration of la in the culhut fluid is about 30 mg per liter: However, considering the biological activity ofmerulidial la, it would be advantageous to the fungus if the concentration of this compound inside the cells is kept as low as possible. The mycelium instead yielded small amounts (30 mg) of the reduced derivative memlialol~~ l2a, which, in analogy with reduced derivatives of unsaturated dialdehydes in other fungi,5* 17may be formed by the enzymatic reduction of any merulidial IS present in the mycelium, possibly in order to avoid exposure to its own toxin.

COOR

OR

OH

8

7

OH

9

OH

Scheme 3

a:R=H b:R=COCH3 c:R=CH3 d : R - COCH&l e : R = CO-0-B

2392

0. STERNERet al.

In order to secure the struchues proposed by the spectroscopic methods, as well as to assign the absolute conflguration in the latter case, X-ray analyses of acetylnmulidial lb and chloroacetyhmnediol7d were canied out. The molecular structures obtalned a~ shown in Figure 1. The confidence levels for the detemlnatlons of the absolute amfigurations are on the bask of a Hamilton R-test significantly greater than 90% for acetylmemWal lb,

and 99.5% for chloroacetyltremediol7d.

Therefore the assignment of lb should be regarded as tentative.

The absolute configurations obtained are the same as those proposed previously for other sterpurane*~ and isolactarane1J9 sesquiterpenes.

Figure 1. Molecular structures of compounds lb and 7d.

S; multiplicity; L

H

1.29,1.25; d; 4.7

2.12; dm; 18 1.58; m (-CH3)

2.0s; dm; 17

1.59; m (-CH3)

llb

12ii

1.09; s 0.98; s

1.w;

0.97; s

14

15

S

1.25; s

1.20;s

13

12b

2.25; dm; 18

2.23; dm; 17

lla

1.02; S -0cH3: 3.73; s

1.06;s

1.12; s 0.9% s

0.98; s

1.04,l.Q

s

1.36,1.28; s

13 1.56; s

1.23; s

13

1.22; m

4.47,4.27; &

IOb

1.90;m

4.56.4.54; +

1.26; dd; 9,12

1.32; t; 12.0

4.75; ddt; 2.0,2.8, 13.1

1.96; dd; 4, 12

1.98; ddd; 2,7, 12

4.84, ddt; 2.6,4.1,13.1

2.4; m

2.45; m

3.31; d; 9.9

1Oa

2.32; m

k

3.15; d; 10.1

9

3.53,3.38; d; 9.0

?? B g a 2

3.45; & 10.6

2.24, m

2.42; m

8

3.59; d; 9.3

P

0.87,0.84; d; 4.7

1.68, dd; 5912.6

1.38; da; 1.0,4.5

1.42; a; 5.0

0.87; dd, 11.3,12.6

l.Sz; a; 4.5

1.74; d; 5.0

1.67; dd; 6.2,12.8

1.22; ddd; 2,9, 10

5b

1.94; m 5.29,5.25; s

0.88; dd, 9.0,12.8

1.52; ddd; 8,9.10

Sa

1.99zm

2.48; d; 20

1.94; m

6; multiplicity; 1

12a

c= 2

lb

1.32; dd, l-6,13.4

1.90; ddd; 2,8,1 0

4b

1.99; m

2.65; ad; 2,20 9.41; s (-CHO)

S; multiplicity; 2

11

S; multiplicity; J

9c

11and merulialol l2a (epimeric mixture 1:l).

7a

1.91; dd; 6.6.13.4

2.17; ddd; 10, 10, 10

3.87; dd; 1.6,6.6

6; multiplicity; J

4a

lb

la

7a

1~ NMR data for tremediol7a, uemeuiol Sa, methyl men&mate 9% memlactone

Compound

Table 2,

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New sterpurane and isolactarane sesquiterpenes

The spectral data for tmmetriol8a ate very similar to those of tremcdiol78.

The most characteristic

spectroscopic feature of both compouuds is that the base peaks of their high resolution mass spectra are fcamed by loss of C&t from the molecular ion of tremediol7a, and C$QO from tire molecular ion of rremetriol8a. Exactly the same phenomena have previously been observed for other sterptuanes,ll~l2 and this appears to be typical for the sterpurane sesquiterpenes. Except for the different molecular ions, the mass spectra of the two compounds are almost identical, suggesting that a hydrogen in the cyclobutane ring of tmmediol7a has been replaced by’s hydroxyl group in tremetriol8a. The NMR data (tH and DC) of the two compounds are quite similar, except for differences supporting the above suggested substitution of a hydrogen for a hydmxyl (for NMR data of both compounds, see Tables 2 and 3). The position of the additional hydroxyl group in tremetriol 8a was determined by NOE experiments with tmmetriol8a as well as its p-bromobenzoyl ester 8e (for which the 1H NMR signals were better resolved). When l2-H3 was irradiated, a NOE could be observed on 4H (6% in compound 8a and 7% in compound 8e). Irradiation of 5-H, in the ester 8e resulted in NOES on 4-H (17%) and 8-H (13%), while irradiation of 8-H gave a 9% NOE on S-Ha.

Table 3. 13C NMR data for tremediol7a. tremetriol8a. methyl merulanate 9c, merulactone 11 and merulialol12a

Compound

(epimeric mixture 1:l).

9c

11

12a

7a

8a

i32.2a; s

131.28;s

45.3a; t

43.2a; t

43.7,43.ga; t

135.88; s

137.38;s

156.1; s

124.513;s

126.9,127.lb; s

76.1; s

76.7; s

120.4; s

129.8b; s

129.1,130.3+ s

24.74 t

75.5; d

197.9; s

176.9; s

98.5, 102.0; d

35.8h; t

36.2n; t

20.4; t

25.4; t

17.5,21.3; t

46.3c; s

44.9c; s

34.8b; s

31.6c; s

27.4,27.8C; s

36.3”; t

37.3h; t

37.4b; s

34.G; s

38.4,38.5C; s

45.4; d

45.4; d

74.6; d

78.1; d

78.0,78.1; d

87.8; d

87.8; d

46.4; d

44.6; d

44.7,45.4; d

41.8e; s

41.8C; s

48.W, t

45.7a; t

45.8,46.3a; t

45.3; t

45.1; t

40.2h; s

38.9; s

38.8,39.8e; s

30.3; q

29.7; q

167.2; s

68.1; t

67.4,68.0; t

14.6; q

14.3; q 2&u’; q 27.1*;q

16.4; q

14.7; q

17.2, 17.5; q

28.1C; q

28.4“; q

28.5,28.6*; q

29.5C; q 51.6; q

29.1*; q

29.2,29.5*; q

C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0CH3

25.0$ q 26. I*; q

The spectra were recorded in CD30D (compounds 7a and 8a) or CDCl3 (compounds !k, 11 and 12a), at 75.4 MHz with TMS as internal standard, and 6 is given in ppm. a, b, c and d are interchangable.

0. STERNERel al.

2396

The purification of the limited amounts of merulanic acid 9a fmm acidic impurities was difficult, the crude fraction was the&ore tmated with diazomethane and merulanic acid 9a was isolated as its methyl ester 9c after silica gel chromatography. The suggested structure is supported by its spectral data, and was confnmed by the spectral comparison of the product obtained by reduction of methyl merulanate 9c with NaBI-Q, with the previously reported lactone 1O.l The spectral data of merulactone 11 we verysimilar to those of lactone 10, although the carbonyl absorption in the IR spectrum (1775 cm-l) suggests that the lactone functionality of men&tone 11 is no longer a&unsaturated. In addition, long-range couplings in the 1H NMR spectnfm of merulactone 11 between 12-Hz and both l-H2 and 9-H, confirm that the lactone is positioned as suggested. The NMR spectra of merulialol Ua, which in organic solvents exists as an epimerlc mixture (1: l), show large similarities with those of merulactone 11.The major difference is the loss of the signals for a lactone functionality, and the gain of signals for a hemiacetal functionality, and this is supported by the high resolution mass spectra and IR spectra. The long-range couplings between 12-H2 and l-Hz, as well as between 12-H2 and 9-H, are approximately the same as in merulactone 11.Furthermore, careful reduction of merulidial la with NaBIQ gave, among other reduction products, a product identical to the isolated merulialol12a. Acetylation of merulialol12a yielded, after chromatography on silica gel, the monoacetate 12b,which spectral data support the suggested structure. The different oxidation patterns in the sterpurane and isolactarane sesquiterpenes isolated in this investigation excludes tremediol7a and tremetriol8a as precursors to merulidial la. However, if merulidial la has a sterpurane precursor, the hydmxylation of the cyclobutane ring in tremetriol &t indicates how an isolactarane C4 aldehyde (like merulidial la) could be formed from a hydroxylated sterpurane precursor via a presumably enzyme-catalyzed pinacol-type of rearrangement, as depicted in Figure 2.

Figure

2

All isolated sesquiterpenes were assayed for antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities.20 Besides merulidial la,2 only a-Lbisabololl3 showed any activity at all (a-1-bisabolol 13 is a known antibiotic previously isolated from various plant+).

In view of the mutagenic activity of merulidial la in the Ames Salmonella assay.3 methyl

merulanate 9c, merulactone 11 and merulialol12a were assayed for direct-acting mutagenic activityin the same assay (tester strains TA98, TAlOO and TA2637). However, all three compounds were found to be inactive.

2391

New sterpurane and isolactarane sesquiterpenes This is the second time sterpurane and isolactarane sesquiterpenes have been isolated together from the same species, supporting the suggested biogenetic nlationship between the two groups. No obvious sterpurane precursor to the isolactaranes was found in this investigation, and it could be worthwhile to investigate whether M. tremeW

incorporates labelled acetate into merulidial la according to the suggested biosynthetic path-

way.gJO

X-ray structural analyses of fi and a: a: Crystal data - C17Ha04, M = 290.4. Orthorhombic, B = 11.644(4), h = 15.676(4), E = 8.826(3) A,y = 1611(l) A3 (by least squares refinement of diffractometer angles for 25 automatically centered reflections, a = 1.54184 A), space group FQt2121, Z = 4. Dx = 1.20 g cm-3, E(OO0)= 624, y(Cu-Ku) = 6.5 cm- l. Data collection - crystal size 0.48 x 0.48 x 0.48 mm Enraf-Nonius CAD4 diffractometer, to scan mode with scan withs 0.75 + 0.14 tanW, 28 5140” (+h, +k, +1), graphite-monochmmated Cu-Ka radiation. 1759 independent reflections, giving 1559 with Iz3o(D;

absorption

corrections with v scan. 3 standard reflections monitored regularly showed variations c f 1%. Structure Solution and Refinement - Diit methods followed by full-matrix least squares refinement for all atoms (H isotropic). Xw( Lie C R b2 was minimized with weights x = 1/[02(&,)+p2&,2], p = 0.006. Final B and Rw values for Ib are 0.0614 and 0.0614, for the enantiomorph 0.0616 and 0.0615. The deterioration was significant at the 90% level. a: Crystal data - C17Hz503C1, M = 312.8. Orthorhombic, JJ= 10.321(2), h = 16.092(4), E = 10.171(4) A,y = 1689(l) A3 (by least squares refinement of diffractometer angles for 25 automatically centered reflections. h = 1.54184 A), space group p212121. Z = 4, Dx = 1.23 g cm-? E(OO0)= 672, b(Cu-Ka) = 20.7 cm-l. Data collection - crystal size 0.52 x 0.36 x 0.34 mm Enraf-Nonius CAD4 diffractometer, o scan mode with scan withs 0.85 + 0.14 tanW, 28 5140“ (+h, +k, +L), graphite-monochromated Cu-JQx radiation. 1840 independent reflections, giving 1666 with 12 3o(D; absoxption corrections with w scan. 3 standard reflections monitored regularly showed variations c f 1%. Structure Solution and Refinement - Direct methods followed by full-matrix least squares refinement with H atoms riding p = 0.006. Final B and Ew on C atoms. Cw( k% C R b2 was minimized with weights x = lJo2&,)+p2&2], values for u are 0.065 and 0.066, for the enantiomorph 0.074 and 0.077. The deterioration was significant at the 99.5% level. The chlorine atom is disordered; site occupation factors of 0.85 and 0.15 were assigned to the two positions.

Column chromatography was performed on “Merck Lobar pre-packed” silica gel columns eluted with ethyl acetate : petroleum ether mixtures. Preparative TLC was performed on “Merck DC Fertigplatten, Kieselgel60” (layer thickness 0.25 mm) with diethyl ether, or ethyl acetate : petroleum ether mixtunx. Analytical TLC was performed on “Merck DC Alufolien, Kieselgel60” with ethyl ether. 1~ and 13C NMR spectra were obtained on

0. STERNER et al.

2398

a Varian XL300 spectmmeter in CDC13 or WOD

solutions with tetramethylsilane as the internal standard. The

coupling constants J are given in Ha. IR spectra were recorded on a Perkin Elmer 1420 instrument. W spectra were taken with a Varian Cary 17 specnometer. High resolution mass spectra were obtained on an ABI MS 50 instrument. Optical rotations were recorded at 22 OC. Tremediol7a (600 mg) was obtained as a crystalline white solid, mp 134135’C. RP 0.30 (ethyl acetate : pe,nhun ethC2’).[aID -71’ (C 1.1h diethyl ether). w (ethmol) : no IIx3Xhwm aboVe210 m. m (KBr) : 3370,2950,1450,1370.1050, and 985 cm-l. lH NMR see Table 2.13C NMR see Table 3. MS, & : 236.1769 (M+. 308, calculated for Cl5H2402 236.1776), 208, (100%). 190 (25%). 137 (50%). 136 (58%), 135 (65%). 121 (33%). Chloroacetyltremediol7d was obtained as a crystalline white solid, mp 99-100 “C (EtOAc:heptane), after chloroacetylation of tremediol with chloracetyl chloride in pyridine, and chtomatography on silica gel. 1H NMR (CDC13): 4.66, d, C(9)H, &9=10.0 ; 4.09, s, OCOCHgCl; 2.62, m, C(8)H ; 2.30. d, C( 1l)Ha, 11 la-l lb=17 ; 2.16, d, C(ll)Hb,

Jlla_llb=l7

; C(d)Ha, 2.13, ddd, J4a-4b=lO, J4a-5a=lO, &a-5b=lO ; 2.00, ddd,

C(4)Hb. J4a-4b=lO, l4b-5a=8, z44b_5b=2; 1.63, m, C(l2)H3 ; 1.53,dd, C(7)Ha. J7a-8c6.0, ,!7a-7bcl3.2 : 1.46, ddd. C(5)Ha. L4a-5a=lO, kb5a=& fia-5b=9 ; 1.23, d&t C(5)Hb. ka-5b=lO, 14b-5bx2. J5a-5b=9 ; 1.20, 1.06, and 1.06, S, C(l3)H3, C(l4)H3, and C(l5)H3 ; 1.00, dd, C(7)Hb. 17b-8zll.4, L7a-7&-13.2. Tremetriol &I (15 mg) was obtained as a crystalline white solid, mp 164X164°C. RF 0.45 @ethyl ether). [a]D +43” (c 0.8 in diethyl ether). UV (ethanol) : no maximum above 210 nm. IR (RBr) : 3340,2900,1260,1125, 1090,1060, and 1020 cm-l. 1~ NMR see Table 2. *3C NMR see Table 3. MS, B,I/Z: 252.1745 (M+, 0.5%. calculated for Cl5H2403 252.1725), 208, (lOO%), 190 (29%), 175 (36%), 137 (46%), 136 (49%). 135 (24%), 121 (30%). pBromobenzoyl ester of tremetriol (8e) was obtained as a crystalline white solid, mp 139-140.5 OC (I&O:EtOH), after p-bromobenzoylation of tremediol with p-bmmobenzoyl bromide in pyridine. 1~ NMR (CDC13): 7.94 and 7.61, m. aromatic-H& 4.97, dd, C(4)H, &5a=6.8, ,&b=l.5;

4.89, d, C(9)H. &9=9.6;

2.67, m. C(8); 2.42, d. C(1 l)Ha, ~lla_llb= 18; 2.29, d, C(ll)Hb, ,!tIs_llb=l8; 2.09. dd, C(5)I-k. J4_~~~6.8, ,Lja_5h=13.8;1.78, m. C(12)H3; 1.63, dd, C(7)Ha, &_7h=l3.3, &s-8=5.8; 1.60, dd, C(5)Hb. &t,=l.5, &a_ 5b=l3.8; 1.34, 1.19, and 1.12, s, C(l3)H3. C(l4)H3, and C(l5)H3; 1.13, m. C(7)Hb.

Methyl memlanate 9c (30 mg) was obtained as a crystalline white solid, mp 121-124Y!. RF 0.60 (diethyl ether). [o]D -59O (c 2.5 in chloroform). W (ethanol) &

(a) : 231 (5.900) and 250 (infl.). IR (KBr) : 3470.2950,

1705 (broad), 1630,1430,1250.1040,970 and 860 cm- 1. 1~ NMR see Table 2. 13C NMR see Table 3. MS, &z : 278.1514 (M+. 88, calculated for Cl6H2204 278.1518), 247, (25%), 246 (lOO%), 228 (20%), 218 (61%), 217 (76%), 203 (57%). Merulactone ll(20mg) was obtained as a colourless oil. RF 0.28 (ethyl acetate : petroleum ether 1: 1). [o]D 38’ (c 1.5 in diethyl ether). UV (ethanol) ?L,.,,~(E) : 230 (4.800). IR (neat) : 3420.2950, 1765,1460, 1365,

2399

New sterpurane and isolactaranesesquiterpenes 1215.1040,

and 1010 cm-l. 1~ NMR see Table 2.13C NMR see Table 3. MS, m/z : 248.14 ll(M+, 94%,

calculated for Cl5H2oO3 248.1412). 233, (43%). 230 (37%), 215 (72%). 175 (100%). 119 (96%). 91 (88%). Mcrulialol12a (30 mg, epimeric mixture 1: 1) was obtained as a crystalhne

(ethyl acetate ; p&dem

white

solid, mp 62-67°C. RF 0.30

etha 23). [a]~ +M” (c 3.0 in chloroform). uv (ethanol) &

(&): 220 (2.400).m

&z: (KBr) : 3380,2950,1460,1020, and 900 cm -1.lHNMRseeTable2.13CNMRseeTable3.MS 250.1554 &I+, 5%. calculated for Cl5H2203 250.1569). 232, (lOO%), 217 (53%). 204 (95%). 175 (63%), 119 (66%). 91 (87%). Acetylmerulialol l2b (epimeric mixture 1: 1) was obtained as a slightly yellow oil after acetylation of merulialol 12a with acetic anhydride in pyridine, and chromatography of the crude product on silica gel. 1~ NMR (CDC13): 5.29 and 5.26, s, C(4)H; 5.07 and 4.95, d, C(8)H. &+g=9.7; 4.55 and 4.30, m, C(12)Hz; 2.49, m, C(9)I-k 2.14 and 2.13, s. OCOCH3; 1.97, m, C(l)H2; 1.66, m. C(lO)Ha; 1.40 and 1.37, d, C(5)Ha. &_ 5hz4.8; 1.26. m. C(IO)Hb, 1.24, 1.16, 1.05. 1.04 and 0.96. s, C(13)H3, C(14)H3 and C(15)H3; 0.89 and 0.88, d, C(5)Hb. &_5h =4.8. IR (neat) : 3420,2960, 1740,1260, 1090, 1020 and 800 cm-l. MS, m/z : 292.1668 (M+. 9%. calculated for Cl7H2404 292.1674), 232, (29%), 231 (33%), 217 (39%). 214 (45%), 187 (49%), 186 (94%).

s

: This work was financially supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

Fellowships from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Swedish Natural Research Council for 0.S are gratefully acknowledged. High resolution mass spectra were recorded by Dr. G. Eckhardt, Bonn.

AND NOTES 1. B. Giannetti, B. Steffan, W. Steglich, W. Quack and T. Anke, Tetrahedron 198642 2. W. Quack, T. Anke, B. Giannetti and W. Steglich, J. 3. H. At&e, 0. Sterner and W. Steglich, J.

3579.

19783,737.

1989,42,738.

4. G. Cimino, S. De Rosa, S. De Stefano, G. Sodano and G. Villani, Science 1983. m, 5. 0. Sterner, R. Bergman. J. Kihlberg and B. Wickberg. J. 6. W.M. Daniewski, M. Kocor and S. Thoren, m

1237.

1985.4& 279. 1976,s. 77.

7. W.M. Daniewski, W. Krosxczynski, P.Skibicki, M. De Bernardi, G. Fronza. G. Vidari and P. Vita-F&i, Phvtochemistrv

1988.2

187.

8. W.A. Ayer and M.H. Saeedi-Ghomi, mm.

1981,~,2071.

9. C. Abell. A. P. Leech, SLett. 1987,a. 4887. 10. W.A. Ayer, T. T. Nakashima and M.H. Saeedi-Ghomi, Can.

1984,&

531.

11. W.A. Ayer, M.H. Saeedi-Ghomi, D. Van Engen, B. Tagle, J. Clardy, Tetrahedron 1981, u, 379. 12. W.A. Ayer and M.H. Saeedi-Ghomi, Can. 1981, & 2536.

0.

2400

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3401. 20. H. Anke. unpublished results. We thank Dr. Anke for performing these assays. The atomic coordinates for this work are available on request from the Dimctor of the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre. University Chemical Laboratory, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW. Any request should be accompanied by the full literature citation for this communication.