Structures of Merrilactones B and C, Novel Anislactone‐Type Sesquiterpenes from Illicium merrillianum, and Chemical Conversion of Anislactone B to Merrilactone A.

Abstract Two new anislactone-type sesquiterpenes, merrilactones B (1) and C (2) were isolated from the pericarps of Illicium merrillianum along with anislactones A (4) and B (5). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical transformation and the structure of merrilactone C was established by X-ray crystallographic analysis of its methyl derivative. Merrilactone A (3), a unique anislactone-type sesquiterpene showing neurite outgrowth promoting activity, was effectively synthesized from anislactone B.