Synthetic studies on neoclerodane diterpenes from Salvia splendens: oxidative modifications of ring A

Salvinorin A (1), a neoclerodane diterpene from the hallucinogenic mint Salvia divinorum, is the only known naturally occurring non-nitrogenous and specific κ-opioid agonist. Some oxidative modifications of the A ring in the congeners of 1 isolated from Salvia splendens salviarin, splenolide B, splendidin, and in the non-natural 8-epi-salviarin gave new derivatives, some of which were tested as agonists at opioid receptors. However, none of these compounds was active. The presence of the C-18, C-19 lactone could be at the origin of the observed lack of binding affinity.