A chemical examination of Montanoa tomentosa subsp. xanthiifolia affor
ded in addition to some known compounds, four new sesquiterpene lacton
es: 4 beta,5 alpha-epoxy-8 alpha-isobutyryloxy-trans-germacr-1 (10)-en
-12,6 beta-olide (1a), 4 beta,5 alpha-epoxy-7 alpha-hydroxy-8 alpha-is
obutyryloxy-trans-germacr-1(10)-en-12,6 beta-olide (1b), (1R,4S)-1,5-c
yclo-5 alpha-hydroxy-8 alpha-isobutyryloxy-7 alpha, 10 alpha-oxagermac
ran-12,beta-olide (2a), and 4 beta-hydroxy-8 alpha-isobutyryloxy-7 alp
ha,10 alpha-oxaguaian-12,6 beta-olide (3). The structures were determi
ned mainly by spectroscopic methods. The structure of 1b was confirmed
by an X-ray analysis.