Studies on the sesquiterpenoids of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. Isolation and structure determination of sesquiterpene alcohols, panasinsanols A and B.

Abstract
Two sesquiterpene alcohols, panassinsaol A (1) and panasinsanol B (2), were isolated from the rootlets of Panax ginseng C. A. MEYER (Araliaceae) together with known sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, .alpha.-panasinsene (3), .beta.-panasinsene (4), .alpha.-neoclovene (5), and .beta.-neoclovene (6). The structures of 1 and 2 were established by spectral evidence, chemical correlations to congener hydrocarbons (3, 4, 5, and 6), and finally by their synthesis from (-)-.beta.-caryophyllene. This is the first isolation of 1 from a natural source, and 2 is a novel panasinane-type sesquiterpene.