Cardopatine and isocardopatine, two novel cyclobutane substances from Cardopatium corymbosum

Two new natural substances containing a cyclobutane unit, cardopatine and isocardopatine, the trans and cis isomers respectively of 5,5″ (cyclobut-1,2-ylene-diethynylene)bis 2,2′-bithiophene), together with the known α-terthienyl and 5-(but-3-en-1-ynyl)-2,2′-bithienyl, have been isolated from the roots of Cardopatium corymbosum. Evidence is given that the novel cyclobutane substances are not the products of a spontaneous dimerization of a bithienyl monomeric unit. Structure determination and conformational analysis are reported.