ERYTHRO-HENTRIACONTANE-6,8-DIOL AND 11 OTHER ALKANE-6,8-DIOLS FROM CARTHAMUS-TINCTORIUS

A C-31 alkanediol isolated from the methanol extract of dried flower p etals of Carthamus tinctorius was established to have the structure (6 R,8S and/or 6S,8R)-erythro-hentriacontane-6,8-diol by spectral and che mical methods. Eleven other erythro-alkane-6,8-diols with carbon numbe rs C-21, C-23, C-25, C-27-C-30 and C-32-C-35 were also isolated and ch aracterized. This is the first report of the natural occurrence of sec ondary erythro-alkane-beta-diols.