The natural occurrence of the first diterpene in the roots of Pelargonium reniforme (Geraniaceae) is demonstrated. The unique metabolite, reniformin, represents an ester in which a novel diterpene acid with an uncommon -CH2-CH2-bridging element is linked to 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethansulfonic acid. The latter entity has also hitherto not been encountered as a component in natural products. The structure of reniformin was established on the basis of spectroscopic methods.
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