The isolation and structure determination of the fern glycoside osmundalin and the synthesis of its aglycone osmundalactone

From the Japanese foodstuff Akaboshi zenmai, consisting of dried leaves of Osmunda japonica Thunberg and from the Vermont royal fern Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis (Wilid.) Gray a new hydroxypentenolide glucoside, osmundalin (1), was isolated in addition to β-sitosterol and methyl and ethyl palmitate. The structure and absolute stereochemistry of osmundalin were established by spectroscopic and degradation methods and its aglycone, osmundalactone, was synthesized.