Optically Active N-Acetyldopamine Dimer of the Crude Drug "Zentai, " the Cast-off Shell of the Cicada, Cryptotympana sp.

Abstract

Two optically active N-acetyldopamine dimers together with four phenolic monomers were isolated from the crude drug "Zentai, " a cast-off shell of the cicada of Cryptotympana sp. (Cicadidae). The former two were 2-(3', 4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-1, 4-benzodioxane derivatives carrying substituents at the 3 and 6 (or 7) positions, which are known to becomponents of sclerotized insect cuticles. Their structures including absolute configurations were determined on the basis of NMR and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic data.