THE ABSOLUTE STEREOSTRUCTURES OF THE POLYACETYLENIC CONSTITUENTS OF GINSENG RADIX RUBRA

The absolute stereostructures of panaxytriol (1) and panaxydol (2), tw o polyacetylenic constituents of the oriental medicine, Ginseng Radix Rubra, were determined by applying the modified Mosher method, CD exci ton chirality method, and chemical conversion to be expressed as (3R,9 R,10R)-heptadec-1-ene-4,6-diyne-3,9,10-triol and R,9R,10S)-9,10-epoxy- heptadec-1-ene-4,6-diyn-3-ol, respectively. Panaxytriol (1), the chara cteristic constituent of Ginseng Radix Rubra, was presumed to be forme d from panaxydol (2), during the processing of the crude drug, via a r egioselective hydrolysis of the epoxy moiety in 2. (C) 1997 Elsevier S cience Ltd.