Conformation of ring A in triterpenoid ketones. Carbon-13 chemical shifts and spin-lattice relaxation times of lupane and 18α-oleanane derivatives

Abstract

13C NMR spectra of sixteen lupane and 19β,28-epoxy-18α-oleanane triterpenoids I-XVI were measured and a complete structural assignment of chemical shifts was made. For most compounds also the carbon spin-lattice relaxation times T1 were obtained. Characteristic differences in chemical shifts of some carbon atom signals were found between 2α-methyl-3-oxo and 2α-methyl-1-oxo derivatives II, V and VIII with chair conformation of the ring A on the one hand and their 2β-isomers III, VI and IX (boat form) on the other. Using these 2-methyl ketones as models, the chair-boat population in allobetulone (I), 3-oxo-28-lupanenitrile (IV) and 1-oxo derivative VII was determined. The results agree well with the data obtained by other physical methods.