Abstract
A total of fifteen saturated fatty acid esters were newly identified from the secretions of an unidentified Anaulaciulus sp. (Julida: Julidae). The fatty acid components of the esters were composed of normal chain acids (from C10 to C14) and of branched chain acids (from iso-C12 to iso-C15 and anteiso-C15). The alcohol moieties were all composed of normal chain alcohols varying from n-butanol to n-octanol. The most abundant component found in the total esters was n-hexyl laurate (64.7%). Novel compounds identified from the millipede secretion extracts include six branched iso- and anteiso-fatty esters, an odd-numbered C11-fatty acid ester, a C13-fatty acid ester, and a C7-alcohol ester, all of which were previously undescribed natural products. In addition, a characteristic mixture of benzoquinones, such as 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, 2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone, 2-methoxy-6-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, and 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone were identified from the secretions, together with trace amounts of 1,4-benzoquinone.
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This work was supported in part by Agricultural Chemical Research Foundation and by a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) [No.20780086 for NS] from the Japan society for the promotion of Science (JSPS).
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Shimizu, N., Kuwahara, Y., Yakumaru, R. et al. n-Hexyl Laurate and Fourteen Related Fatty Acid Esters: New Secretory Compounds from the Julid Millipede, Anaulaciulus sp.. J Chem Ecol 38, 23–28 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-012-0063-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-012-0063-4