Structural studies of digitoxin and related cardenolides by two-dimensional NMR

The 1H and 13C NMR spectra of the cardenolides digitoxigenin, digoxigenin, digitoxin, and mono- and bis-digitoxigenin digitoxosides have been completely assigned by two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The techniques used include phase-sensitive COSY, multiple relay COSY, and carbon–proton correlation (HETCOR and HMQC) spectra. Various aspects of the solution conformation of the steroid moiety of digitoxin and digoxigenin could be determined from coupling constants and NOE difference experiments and they are indicative of an all-chair conformation. The carbohydrate rings in digitoxin and the mono- and bis-digitoxigenin digitoxosides are also in the chair conformation. Keywords: cardenolides, digitoxigenin, digitoxin, 2-dimensional NMR, conformational analysis.