Caesalpin F: A New Furanoditerpene from Caesalpinia Bonducella

Abstract

Seed kernels of grey and yellow nicker, Caesalpinia bonducella L. (Caesal-piniaceae), are used extensively in Jamaican folk medicine. Chemical examination of the defatted kernel has led to the isolation of a group of furanoditerpenes—α-, β-,δ-, and ∊-caesalpins. The structures of these have been established (1,2), and the absolute configuration of ∊-caesalpin has been determined by X-ray studies on a suitable derivative (1). A tentative structure has been put forward for a related compound, x-caesalpin, isolated from the bark of Caesalpinia pulcherrima Swartz (3). In this communication we describe the isolation and characterization of a new furanoditerpene, caesalpin F (2), from the seeds of C. bonducella. © 1986, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.