Spirokermeline: A Macrocyclic Spirolactone from Kermadecia elliptica Brongn. & Gris

Abstract

Spirokermeline, a new macrocyclic compound derived from resorcinol, was isolated from Kermadecia elliptica, an endemic species of New Caledonia. The structure of spirokermeline was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. This is the first time that a 3H,3′H-spiro[benzofuran-2,1′-isobenzofuran]-3,3′-dione was isolated from higher plants and only the second time that this scaffold was found in nature. A possible biosynthetic pathway is proposed