Furanosesquiterpenes from Commiphora sphaerocarpa and related adulterants of true myrrh.

A new furanosesquiterpene, (1E)-8,12-epoxygermacra-1,7,10,11-tetraen-6-one (3), was isolated from the resin of Commiphora sphaerocarpa together with the known compounds curzerenone (1), furanodienone (2), (1E)-3-methoxy-8,12-epoxygermacra-1,7,10,11-tetraen-6-one (4), (1(10)E,2R*,4R*)-2-methoxy-8,12-epoxygermacra- 1(10),7,11-trien-6-one (5), and dihydropyrocurzerenone (6). Hydrodistillates of the resins of C. sphaerocarpa, C. holtziana, C. kataf and C. myrrha were analysed. The identifications were aided by NMR, GC and GC-MS.