Abstract

2α,4-Dihydroxy-1,8-cineole (2a) is present in the urine of brushtail possums fed a diet enhanced with 1,8-cineole (1). Chemical syntheses of this novel metabolite (2a) and its 2β-epimer (19a) are described. The n.m.r. spectra of various 1,8- and 1,4-cineoles are reported, and literature assignments for C1 and C4 in the 1,4-cineole series are corrected.