NMR structure determination of (11E)-trinervita-1(14),2,11-triene, a new diterpene from sexual glands of termites

Female alates of Nasutitermes ephratae termites from Guadeloupe and Nasutitermes sp. from Brazil produce a diterpene hydrocarbon of the molecular formula C20H30 as the main component of their tergal gland secretion. Analysis of NMR, IR, and mass spectra of the diterpene led to a structure of (11E)-trinervita-1(14),2,11-triene. Based on a comparison with the published oxygenated trinervitane skeleton from termites we prefer the enantiomer with absolute configurations (4R,7S,8R,15S,16S). The suggested structure is supported by ab initio quantum chemical calculation of 1H and 13C chemical shifts for the optimized geometry of the molecule.