Syntheses and antibacterial activities of diterpene catechol derivatives with abietane, totarane and podocarpane skeletons against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Propionibacterium acnes.

Natural catechol, quinone and quinone methide diterpenes with abietane (15-deoxyfuerstione, taxodione) and totarane (dispermone, 12,13-dihydroxy-8,11,13-totaratriene-6-one), and podocarpane (nimbidiol, deoxynimbidiol) skeletons were synthesized using ortho-oxidation of phenol with meta-chlorobenzoyl peroxide. Minimum inhibitory activities of these diterpenes and previously synthesized natural diterpenes were measured against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Propionibacterium acnes, which cause serious skin infection associated with acne. Abietaquinone methide and 8,11,13-totaratriene-12,13-diol showed potent activities against S. aureus (MRSA) and P. acnes, and no serious toxicity by oral dose to mice.