The chemistry of the nasutins

Abstract

The termite metabolites nasutins A, B, and C are shown to be related to ellagic acid. Nasutin A, which has been synthesized, is the dilactone (I) of 2,2'-dicarboxy-4,6,4',6'-tetrahydroxydiphenyl and is thus identical with a pigment isolated by Lederer from the castoreum of the Canadian beaver. Nasutins B and C are identical with 3,4,3'-tri-O-methylellagic and 3,3'-di-O-methylellagic acids, respectively.