The characterization of ficaprenol-10, -11 and 12 from the leaves of Ficus elastica (decorative rubber plant).

Evidence from mass, nuclear-magnetic-resonance and infrared spectrometry and from gas-liquid and thin-layer chromatography is presented in favour of the presence of cis-trans-decaprenol, -undecaprenol and -dodecaprenol in the mixture of polyprenols (2.6mg./g.) isolated from leaf tissue of Ficus elastica. The trivial names ficaprenol-10, -11 and -12 are proposed. Nuclear-magnetic-resonance studies showed that each of these prenols contains three trans internal isoprene residues and a cis ;OH-terminal' isoprene residue. Ficaprenol-11 is the major component of the mixture. Chromatographic evidence suggests the presence also of small amounts of ficaprenol-9 and -13. The precise position of the three trans internal isoprene residues was not determined but it is suggested that these are adjacent to the omega-terminal isoprene residue and that the ficaprenols are formed from all-trans-geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate. It is also suggested that ficaprenol-10, -11, -12 and -13 are probably the same compounds as castaprenol-10, -11, -12 and -13.