A methanol extract of Cladanthus arabicus gave two sesquiterpenes. One
was a new compound, cladantholide, identified as 2-oxy-1 alpha H,5 al
pha H,6 beta H,7 alpha H,11 alpha H-guai-3,4-en-6,12-olide. The other
compound was sintenin elucidated as 3 beta,9 beta-diacetoxy-6 beta H,7
alpha H-germaera-1(10),4(5)-diene-6,12-olide. The structures of these
compounds were substantiated by high field H-1 and C-13 NMR spectrosc
opy. The structure of cladantholide was confirmed by single crystal X-
ray diffraction.