Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications - digital archive 

Abstract

The components of the defence secretion of the soldiers of Nasutiterms nigriceps termite species (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) have been identified. In the volatile fraction the following components were found: α- and β-pinene, camphene, myrcene, α-terpinene, p-cymene, limonene and terpinolene. Ten diterpenic compounds (I - X), mostly derivatives of the tricyclic trinervitane, were found in the non-volatile fraction. The structure of the so far undescribed 1(15),8(19)-trinervitadiene-2β,3α,14α-triol triacetate (X) was determined on the basis of its mass and infrared spectra and a detailed analysis of ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. Considerable differences were found in the composition of the non-volatile fraction of the secretion of the species of termites studied from various localities.