Die Struktur des Harpagosids. 2. Mitteilung über Iridoide

The structure and configuration of harpagoside, a bitter principle from the roots of Harpagophytum procumbens DC, have been elucidated by degradation reactions and NMR. spectra. The hitherto uncertain position of a secondary hydroxyl group could be assigned to C-6 of the aglycone moiety. As earlier postulated, harpagoside ( 1 ) as well as its saponification product, harpagide ( 12 ), belong to a series of natural enol ethers known as iridoids.