Links between the triquinane diterpenes laurenene and waihoensene

The tetracyclic diterpene waihoensene has been identified in some specimens of Podocarpus totara, particularly in a varietal form, P. totara var. waih oensis. We detail the structural analysis of this unique compound by nuclea r magnetic resonance (NMR) correlation experiments, and describe some chemi stry conducted on a previously reported tetracyclic alkene, the product of acid-induced rearrangement of the fenestrane diterpene lauren-1-ene. This w ork establishes an interrelationship between the triquinane structures of l aurenene and waihoensene.