Trinervitene diterpenes from soldiers of two Nasutitermes species from French Guyana

Methanolic extracts of soldiers of Nasutitermes guayanae and N. surinamensis have been shown to contain complex mixtures of diterpenes and monoterpenes. Eighteen diterpenes have been isolated and identified; twelve of them are previously known nasute termite diterpenes, while six are new trinervitene diterpenes. 2 alpha,9 beta-Dihydroxy-3 beta,8 beta-oxido-1(15)-trinervitene (1) has been isolated from N. guayanae, while 3 alpha,14 alpha-diacetoxy-2 beta-hydroxy-1(15),8(19),9-trinervitatriene (3), 14 alpha-acetoxy-2 beta,3 alpha-dihydroxy-1(15),8(19),9-trinervitatriene (4), 2 beta,3 alpha-diacetoxy-11 beta,14 alpha-dihydroxy-1(15),8(19)-trinervitadiene (5), 9 alpha,14 alpha-diacetoxy-2 beta,3 alpha-dihydroxy-1(15),8(19)-trinervitadiene (6), and 2 beta,9 alpha,14 alpha-triacetoxy-3 alpha-hydroxy-1(15),8(19)-trinervitadiene (7) have been isolated from N. surinamensis. Their structures were determined on the basis of their spectroscopic properties