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Termite soldier chemotaxonomy. A new diterpene from the Malaysian nasute termite Bulbitermes singaporensis

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Summary

The defense secretion of the nasute termiteBulbitermes singaporensis consists of 1 new and 2 known tetracyclic diterpenes, spectrometrically identified as 14α-acetoxy-6,8-kempadien-3-one, 3α, 14α- and 3β, 14α-diacetoxy-6,8-kempadiene. The presence of these compounds supports the kinship of the oriental ‘constricted-head’ genera withNasutitermes species in the Philippines and in East Africa.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, State University of New York, 11794, Stony Brook, New York, USA

    G. D. Prestwich, S. H. Goh & Y. P. Tho

  2. University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    G. D. Prestwich, S. H. Goh & Y. P. Tho

  3. Forest Research Institute, Kepong, Malaysia

    G. D. Prestwich, S. H. Goh & Y. P. Tho

Authors
  1. G. D. Prestwich
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  2. S. H. Goh
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  3. Y. P. Tho
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Additional information

For 2 earlier papers in this series, see G. D. Prestwich, Sociobiol.4, 127 (1979); and G. D. Prestwich, Biochem. Syst. Ecol.7, 211 (1979).

Financial support by the National Science Fondation (DEB-7823257) to G. D. Prestwich and by the University of Malaya to S. H. Goh is gratefully acknowledged. Address correspondence to G. D. P.

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Prestwich, G.D., Goh, S.H. & Tho, Y.P. Termite soldier chemotaxonomy. A new diterpene from the Malaysian nasute termite Bulbitermes singaporensis. Experientia 37, 11–13 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01965539

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