Plectranthone A,B, C und D. Diterpenoide Phenanthren-1,4-dione aus Blattdrüsen einer Plectranthuus sp. (Labiatae)

Plectranthons A, B, C, and D. Diterpenoid Phenanthrene-1,4-diones from Leaf-glands a Plectranthus sp. (Labiatae) The following structures of four new 1,4-phenanthraquionones, isolated in minute amounts from the coloured leaf-glands of a Plectranthus sp. obtained from the borders of Lake Kiwu₂, Rwanda, are proposed: plectranthon A ( 1 ; 3-hydroxy-5, 7,8-trimethyl-2-(2-propenyl)phenanthrene-1, 4-dione), plectranthon B ( 2 ; 2-(2ξ-acetoxypropyl)-3-hydroxy-5,7,8-trimethylphenanthrene-1,4-dione), plextranthon C ( 3 ; 3-hydroxy- 7,8-diemethyl-2-(2-propenyl)phenanthrene-1,4-dione), and plectranthon D ( 4 ; 3-hydroxy-7,8,10-trimethyl-2-(2-propenyl)phenanthrene-1,4-dione). 2-(2ξ-Hydroxypropyl)-3,6-dihydroxy-5,7,8-trimethylphenanthrene-1,4-dione ( 11 ), a compound very similar to 1–4 , was prepared by a Wagner-Meerwein, rearrangement of coleon E (⁵). Biogenetically, the plectranthons are derived from abietanoic precursors. The compounds 1, 2 and 4 are the first natural C₂₀-phenanthrenes of diterpenoid origin.