Furanocembranoid Diterpenes as Defensive Compounds in the Dufour Gland of the Ant Crematogaster brevispinosa rochai

• Two new furanocembranoid diterpenes, crematofuran [(1R∗,11R∗,12R∗)-6,19:11,12-bisepoxycembra-3,6,8(19),15-tetraene] (1) and isocrematofuran [(1R∗,3S∗,4S∗)-3,4:6,19-bisepoxycembra-6,8(19),11,15-tetraene] (2), have been isolated from the Dufour gland secretion of the Brazilian ant Crematogaster brevispinosa rochai. Their structures, including the relative configuration, have been determined by a combination of NMR and molecular mechanics methods. The toxicity of 1 towards other ants is on the same level as that of nicotine. This is the first report of cembranoid diterpenes as defensive compounds in an ant.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi -- Organisk kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences -- Organic Chemistry (hsv//eng)

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