Enantiomers of sesquiterpene and diterpene hydrocarbons in Araucaria species

The enantiomeric composition of sesquiterpene and diterpene hydrocarbons in the foliage oils of three different Araucaria species was investigated by enantioselective gas chromatography. Enantiomeric mixtures were observed in both the sesquiterpene and diterpene series. The application of enantiosel ective gas chromatography for stereochemical analysis of diterpenes is demo nstrated. In addition to diterpene hydrocarbons, both enantiomers of manoyl oxide, 13-epi-manoyl oxide and sclareol could be separated by capillary ga s chromatography using cyclodextrin derivatives as chiral stationary phases . Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.