Absolute configuration of a tetrahydrophenanthrene from Heliotropium ovalifolium by LC-NMR of its Mosher esters.

A new tetrahydrophenanthrene (1, (1R,2R)-1-hydroxy-2-methoxy-6,9-dimethyl-2,3-dihydrophenanthren-4(1H)-one (heliophenanthrone)) has been isolated from the aerial parts of Heliotropium ovalifolium. Its structure was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data, and the absolute configuration of the asymmetric centers was determined from LC-NMR data of the Mosher ester derivatives.