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The results of studies of some terpenoids, alkaloids and phenolic derivatives isolated from Siberian plants are summarised. The structures of the compounds studied are presented and the chemical transformations of the available terpenoids and alkaloids are considered. Examples of practical application of natural compounds and their derivatives are given.

Vilsmeier—Haack formylation of methyl lambertianate results in its 16-formyl derivative as the predominant product, which readily enters the intramolecular reaction of photochemical [2+2]-cycloaddition in the absence of a sensitizer.

Acetonation of rhaposerin is accompanied by migration of the O-acetyl group. Acetonation of 15-O-deacetylrhaposerin afforded isomeric O-isopropylidene derivatives containing five- and six-membered rings.

Oxidation of (+)-sabinol, (1S,3R,5S)-1-isopropyl-4-methylidenebicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-3-ol, by active MnO2 afforded not the expected sabinone but only its [4+2]-cyclodimer. The molecular structure of the latter was established by X-ray diffraction analysis. The 1H and 13C NMR spectra of this cyclodimer were interpreted using 2D NMR spectroscopy.

The reactions of the natural flavonoids tectochrysin and pinostrobin with chlorine in methanol afforded for the first time their 6,8-dichloro derivatives. Under the reaction conditions, dichloropinostrobin was transformed further into a tetrachloromethoxy derivative. The molecular structure of the latter was established by X-ray diffraction analysis.

The stereoselective synthesis of two phosphorus-containing derivatives of the known guaianolide arglabin was carried out for the first time. The molecular structures of these products were established based on the spectroscopic data and the results of X-ray diffraction analysis of one of these compounds.

The reaction of grossmisin (8α-hydroxyachillin,1) with chlorine in benzene afforded a mixture of products. The less polar product readily crystallized after chromatography. According to the X-ray diffraction data, this product has the structure of 1α,10β-dichloro-1,10-dihydrogrossmisin. The second chloro derivative of grossmisin,viz., 8β-chloroachillin, was prepared in good yield by the reaction of lactone1 with PCl5 in CHCl3 in the presence of Py.

The reaction of sesquiterpene lactone achillin with chlorine in methanol afforded four products,viz., two monochlorides and two dichlorides. One of these monochlorides is an intermediate in the formation of both dichlorides. The structures of the reaction products were established by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The structure of one of the products was also established by X-ray diffraction analysis.

A new diterpene derivative, 18-succinyloxyabieta-8,11,13-triene, was isolated from the acidic fraction of the extract from wood greens of a Siberian fir. The chemical structure of the molecule was established on the basis of spectroscopy and confirmed by partial synthesis from abieta-8,11,13-trien-18-ol.

This study demonstrates the possibility of achieving a prophylactic effect by intramuscular injection of Abies sibirica polyprenols for the control of influenza virus infection in mice. One of the five polyprenol preparations tested, preparation N1, which had the lowest hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (8.6), produced a significant protective effect when injected in a dose of 2000 μg/mouse 2 days before aerosol infection of mice with influenza virus. A moderate protective effect was also observed using a second preparation, designated N2. One day after aerosol infection, animals pre-treated with 2000 μg doses of the polyprenol preparations or Hanks' solution showed no difference in the level of interferon accumulation in the lungs. Three days after injection of preparation N2 and N1, a significant decrease in spleen and thymus weights was observed in the mice. One day after injection of these preparations, the number of lymphocytes in the bronchoalveolar tract of the mice exceeded almost twice that seen in mice treated with placebo. After 3 days, relative and absolute numbers of macrophages decreased, whereas those of lymphocytes increased significantly. Three days after the administration of preparations N1 and N2, macrophages became approximately twice as active in absorbing zymozan granules. Preparation N1 affected the system of superoxide radical anion production to a greater extent than preparation N2. The production of radical anions by the macrophages of the bronchoalveolar tract in the mice, 1 day after intramuscular injection of preparation N1, was significantly higher than that seen on day 3 and that induced by preparation N2 1 and 3 days after injection. These data indicate that emulsions of polyprenols that have relatively low hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, inhibit influenza virus infection in mice through a modulation of the host immune response.