The structure and synthesis of nepenthone-A, a naphthoquinone from Nepenthes rafflesiana

Abstract

The structure of a naphthoquinone, nepenthone-A, isolated from Nepenthes rafflesiana Jack, is shown to be 4,7-dihydroxy-9-methoxy-6-methylnaphtho[2,3-d]- 1,3-dioxole-5,8-dione (6), first by the synthesis of its di-O-methyl derivative (7), and then by the synthesis of the natural product.