Three new neo-clerodane derivatives, scutalbins A-C, have been isolate
d from the acetone extract of the aerial parts of Scutellaria albida,
in addition to the previously known diterpenes scutecolumnins A and B,
jodrellin B and clerodin. S. altissima provided a new neo-clerodane,
scutalsin, as the sole detectable diterpene constituent. The structure
s of the new compounds were established by chemical and spectroscopic
means as (11S,13S,15R and S,16R,19R)-6 alpha-acetoxy-19-isobutyryloxy-
2 alpha;19;4<alpha, 18,11;16;15,16-tetraepoxy-neo-clerodan-15-ol (scut
alsin), (11S,13S,16S,19S)-6 alpha-acetoxy-2 alpha,19;4 a,18;11,16;15,1
6-tetraepoxy-neo-clerod-14-en-19-ol (scutalbin A), (11S,13S,15R and S,
16R,19R)-6 alpha-acetoxy-19-(2'-methyl)butyryloxy-2 alpha, 19;4 alpha,
18;11,16;15,16-tetraepoxy-neo-clerodan-15-ol (scutalbin B) and (11S,13
S,15R and S,16R,19S)-6 alpha-acetoxy-2 alpha, 19;4 a,18;11,16;15,16-te
traepoxy-neo-cleroda-15,19-diol (scutalbin C). Scutalsin and scutalbin
s B and C were isolated as 1:1 mixtures of the C-15 epimers.