Enatitioselective Total Synthesis of the Diterpenes Kempene-2, Kempene-1, and 3-epi-Kempene-l from the Defense Secretion of Higher Termites

摘要

Soldiers of the termite subfamily Nasutitermitinae found worldwide defend themselves against aggressors by ejecting a secretion containing structurally unique tetracyclic diterpenes. Kempene-2 (1), kempene-1 (2), and 3-epi-kem-pene-1 (3) are diterpenes with a kempane skeleton isolated first from the defense secretion of termite soldiers of the species Nasutitermes kempae and Bulbitermes singaporen-sis (Scheme 1).