Biflora-4, 10(19), 15-Triene: A New Diterpene from a Termite Soldier (Isoptera Termitidae Termitinae)

Abstract

The frontal gland secretion of soldiers of the termite species Cubitermes umbratus Williams contains a mixture of four isomeric diterpenes. One of these diterpenes is characterized as biflora-4, 10(19), 15-triene (2). A partial structural assignment was possible on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence. Selective microscale hydroboration, oxidation, and esterification of 2 gave the corresponding crystalline p-bromobenzoate 5b, whose structure was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. © 1980, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.