Pulcherrimins A – D, novel diterpene dibenzoates from Caesalpinia pulcherrima with selective activity against DNA repair-deficient yeast mutants

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the MeOH/CH2Cl2 extract of the roots of Caesalpinia pulcherrima yielded four novel dibenzoate diterpenes, pulcherrimins A, B, C and D (1-4). The structures of these compounds including their absolute configuration were established by interpretation of spectral data and CD measurements. Pulcherrimins A and B (1 and 2) were found to be active in DNA repair-deficient yeast mutant. (C) 1997, Elsevier Science Ltd.