Non-Volatile Sesquiterpenoids in the Leaves of Camphor Tree (Cinnamomum Camphora)

Abstract

Leaves of the sesquiterpene tree2), one kind of camphor tree, were extracted with acetone. The extract, after concentration, was treated with hexane and the hexane solution was steam distilled in order to remove the volatile substances. The residue was extracted with hexane and, after concentration, was subjected to chromatography on an alumina column (solvent: n-hexane containing 20% ethylacetate) and then on a silica gel column (solvent : n-hexane containing 15% ethylacetate) to isolate 9-oxonerolidol [1], cis- and trans-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-1,7,10-trien-3-ol-9-one [2], [3], 9-oxofarnesol [4] and its acetate [5]. The structure of each compound was tested by spectral and chemical analyses. The stereochemistry of 9-oxonerolidol, which was a major component, was determined as in [1] in relation to (+)-nerolidol. © 1974, The Chemical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.