New furanoid diterpenes from Caesalpinia pulcherrima.

Four new cassane-type furanoditerpenoids (1-4) were isolated from the air-dried leaves of Caesalpinia pulcherrima. Their structures were elucidated by spectral data interpretation. The exocyclic methylene compound 1 readily isomerized and oxidized to the benzofuran 4. Benzyl 2,6-dimethoxybenzoate (5) was also identified in this study. Antimicrobial tests on 1-5 indicated that they were active against several bacteria (S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and B. subtilis) and fungi (C. albicans and T. mentagrophytes).