Studies on terpenoids and steroids—2 : Structures of two new tri- and tetra-oxygenated D:A-friedo-oleanan triterpenes from kokoona zeylanica

The two D:A-friedo-oleanane triterpenes kokzeylanol and kokzeylanonol isolated from the inner bark of Kokoona zeylanica have been characterized as 6β,27-dihydroxy-D:A -friedo-olean-3-one and 6β,27-dihydroxy-D:A-friedo-olean-3,21-dione, respectively, by the deoxygenation of their 27-acetoxy derivatives using lithium-ethylenediamine reduction coupled with spectroscopic and irradiation methods. Kokzeylanonol represents the first tetra-oxygenated D:A-friedo-oleanane triterpene obtained from a nautral source. Significance of some of these D:A-friedo-oleananes in the biosynthesis of quinonoid triterpenes in Celastraceae is discussed.