Crotocaudin; a rearranged labdane type norditerpene from Croton caudatus geisel

The structure and stereochemistry of crotocaudin, a new norditerpene occurring as a minor constituent in Crotoncaudatus Geisel (Euphorbiaceae) have been established as ent-8S,10S-15,16-epoxy-19-norcleroda-4,11,13(16), 14-tetraene 18,6S: 20,12-diolactone 7 from the detailed studies of ¹H NMR spectra using lanthanide shift reagents, decoupling experiments and chemical reactions. The congener, teucvidin, ent-10S-15,16-epoxy-19-norcleroda-4,13(16), 14-triene-18,6S: 20,12R-diolactone 1 was obtained as a major component besides several triterpenoids viz taraxerone 2, taraxerol 3 and taraxeryl acetate 4. ¹³C NMR and ¹H NMR spectra and a few novel reactions of teucvidin and its conversion to teucvin, ent-(6R,12R)-15,16-epoxy-19-nor-9,4-friedolabda-4,13(16),14-triene-18,6:20, 12-diolactone 6 are also reported.