Caeruleanone A, a rotenoid with a new arrangement of the D-ring from the fruits of Millettia caerulea

Abstract

Caeruleanone A (1), a novel rotenoid with an unprecedented arrangement of the D-ring, was isolated with another two new analogues, caeruleanones B (2) and C (3), together with 11 known rotenoids from the fruits of Millettia caerulea. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic data analysis, with that of 1 being confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds 2 and 3 displayed potent mitochondrial transmembrane potential inhibitory and quinone reductase induction activities.