DESERT PLANT CONSTITUENTS: II. OCOTILLOL: AN INTERMEDIATE IN THE OXIDATION OF HYDROXY ISOÖCTENYL SIDE CHAINS

Ocotillol, C 30 H 52 O 3 , a triterpene isolated from Fouquieria splendens Engelm., has been found to have structure I containing a new side chain modification. Confirmation was provided by a partial synthesis from dammarenediol-II monoacetate VIIa. Ocotillol has been found to be an intermediate in one path for the chromic acid oxidation of the hydroxy isoöctenyl side chain XVI, a common feature of several triterpenes, to the tris nor γ-lactone XIX.