6-Alkyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrans: chemical secretion compounds in neotropical harvestmen

J Nat Prod. 2011 Apr 25;74(4):658-63. doi: 10.1021/np100719f. Epub 2011 Feb 25.

Abstract

The defensive secretions of five neotropical species of harvestmen (Opiliones: Gonyleptidae) from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest were analyzed and chemically characterized by GC-MS and NMR methods. Three of the species, Cobania picea, Roweria virescens, and Serracutisoma proximum, secrete a mixture of 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone and 2-ethyl-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone. The secretions produced by the other two species, Iporangaia pustulosa and Neosadocus maximus, contain 1-hepten-3-one, 5-methyl-1-hexen-3-one, and 1-(6-butyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)pentanone (1) as major components, as well as 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone and 2-ethyl-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone as minor constituents. The dihydropyran 1-(6-butyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)pentanone (1) is a new natural product, composed of two 1-hepten-3-one subunits formally linked in a hetero-Diels-Alder reaction. The natural product was proven to be racemic, and its biogenetic origin is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arachnida / chemistry*
  • Brazil
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Male
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Pentanones
  • Pyrans / chemistry
  • Pyrans / isolation & purification*
  • Pyrans / pharmacology
  • Scent Glands / metabolism
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • 1-(6-butyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)pentanone
  • Pentanones
  • Pyrans