Structures of Some Novel α-Glucosyl Diterpene Glycosides from the Glycosylation of Steviol Glycosides

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules191220280

Four new minor diterpene glycosides with a rare α-glucosyl linkage were isolated from a cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase glucosylated stevia extract containing more than 98% steviol glycosides. The new compounds were identified as 13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid-[(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl) ester] (1), 13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid-[(4-O-(4-O-(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester] (2), 13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-(4-O-(4-O-(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (3), and 13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-(4-O-(4-O-(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid-[(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl) ester] (4) on the basis of extensive NMR and mass spectral (MS) data as well as hydrolysis studies.

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules191220280

Molecules 2014, 19, 20280-20294; doi:10.3390/molecules191220280
OPEN ACCESS
molecules
ISSN 1420-3049
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules
Article
Structures of Some Novel α-Glucosyl Diterpene Glycosides from
the Glycosylation of Steviol Glycosides
Indra Prakash * and Venkata Sai Prakash Chaturvedula †
Organic Chemistry Department, The Coca-Cola Company, Global Research and Development,
One Coca-Cola Plaza, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA
†
Current address: Natural Products Research Group, Wisdom Natural Brands,
1203 W San Pedro Street, Gilbert, AZ 85233, USA.
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: iprakash@coca-cola.com;
Tel.: +1-404-676-3007; Fax: +1-404-598-3007.
External Editor: Derek J. McPhee
Received: 10 October 2014; in revised form: 26 November 2014 / Accepted: 28 November 2014 /
Published: 4 December 2014
Abstract: Four new minor diterpene glycosides with a rare α-glucosyl linkage were isolated
from a cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase glucosylated stevia extract containing more than
98% steviol glycosides. The new compounds were identified as 13-[(2-O-β-D-
glucopyranosyl-3-O-(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]
ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid-[(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl) ester] (1),
13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid-[(4-O-(4-
O-(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl
ester]
(2),
13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-(4-O-(4-O-(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-
glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-
16-en-19-oic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (3), and 13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-(4-O-
(4-O-(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-
β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]
ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic
acid-[(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-
glucopyranosyl) ester] (4) on the basis of extensive NMR and mass spectral (MS) data as
well as hydrolysis studies.

Molecules 2014, 19
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Keywords: Stevia rebaudiana; compositae; asteraceae; glycosylation; diterpenoid
glycosides; NMR; MS; hydrolysis studies
1. Introduction
Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni (Bertoni) is a perennial shrub of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family
native to certain regions of South America (Paraguay and Brazil) [1]. It is often referred to as “The
sweet herb of Paraguay”, but now it is grown commercially in a number of countries, particularly in
Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand and Indonesia [2]. The major constituents in the leaves of S. rebaudiana
are the potently sweet diterpenoid glycosides stevioside, rebaudiosides A and D, and dulcoside B. These
compounds are all glycosides of the diterpene steviol (ent-13-hydroxykaur-16-en-19-oic acid) [3–6].
We have recently reported the isolation of the diterpenoid glycosides from S. rebaudiana having
α-glucopyranosyl linkages [7]. As a part of our continuing research to discover novel natural
sweeteners, we are working on the commercial extracts of the leaves of S. rebaudiana obtained from
various suppliers across the World and we have reported several novel diterpene glycosides [8–12].
Purification of a glucosylated steviol glycoside mixture obtained from PureCircle (Enstek, Malaysia)
resulted in the isolation of four new additional minor diterpene glycosides 1–4. In this article we
describe the isolation and structure elucidation of 1–4 based on 1D (1H and 13C) and 2D (COSY,
HSQC, HSQC-TOCSY, and HMBC) NMR spectral as well as MS studies (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Structures of the new steviol glycosides 1–4.

Molecules 2014, 19
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2. Results and Discussion
Compound 1 was isolated as a white powder and its molecular formula has been deduced as
C56H90O33 on the basis of its positive ESI data which showed the presence of [M+H]+ and [M+Na]+
ions at m/z 1291.5458 and 1313.5277, respectively; this was supported by 13C-NMR spectral data. The
1H-NMR spectrum of 1 (Table 1) showed the presence of two methyl singlets at δ 1.23 and 1.26, two
olefinic protons as singlets at δ 5.05 and 5.68 of an exocyclic double bond, nine methylene and two
methine protons between δ 0.76–2.63 characteristic for the diterpenes belongs to the class of
ent-kaurenes isolated earlier from the genus Stevia [8–12]. The basic skeleton of ent-kaurene
diterpenoids was supported by the COSY and TOCSY: H-1/H-2; H-2/H-3; H-5/H-6; H-6/H-7;
H-9/H-11; H-11/H-12 and HMBC: H-1/C-2, C-10; H-3/C-1, C-2, C-4, C-5, C-18, C-19; H-5/C-4, C-6,
C-7, C-9, C-10, C-18, C-19, C-20; H-9/C-8, C-10, C-11, C-12, C-14, C-15; H-14/C-8, C-9, C-13,
1
C-15, C-16 and H-17/C-13, C-15, C-16 correlations. The H-NMR spectrum of 1 also indicated the
presence of six anomeric protons at δ 5.07, 5.32, 5.58, 5.81, 5.87, and 5.98 suggesting the presence of
six hexose moieties in the structure. This was supported by the MS/MS spectrum of 1, selecting the
[M+H]+ ion at m/z 1,291 for fragmentation, indicated the sequential loss of six hexose moieties at m/z
1,129.4902, 967.4354, 805.3866, 643.3286, 481.2945, and 319.2277.
Four of the anomeric protons were well resolved at δH 5.98 (δC 95.4), 5.87 (δC 102.7), 5.81
1
(δC 102.9), and 5.32 (δC 104.2) in the H-NMR spectrum. One of the other two anomeric protons was
observed at δH 5.07 (δC 97.8) and was partially overlapped with one of the H-17 protons, whereas the
remaining anomeric proton was observed at δH 5.58 (δC 104.2) in the HSQC data but was
1
co-suppressed with the residual H2O peak in the H spectrum. Two of the anomeric protons (δH 5.81
and 5.87) had small coupling constants (J < 4 Hz) indicating that they have an α-configuration similar
to the steviol glycosides reported earlier from S. rebaudiana [7]; the large coupling constants observed
for the other four anomeric protons appeared at δ 5.07 (d, J = 8.1 Hz), 5.58 (d, J = 7.8 Hz), 5.32
(d, J = 7.9 Hz), and 5.98 (d, J = 8.4 Hz), suggested their β-orientation as reported for steviol
glycosides [8–12]. The anomeric proton observed at δH 5.98 showed an HMBC correlation to C-19
which indicated that it corresponds to the anomeric proton of Sugar-I. Similarly, the anomeric proton
observed at δH 5.07 showed an HMBC correlation to C-13 allowing it to be assigned as the anomeric
proton of Sugar-II.
a−c
Table 1. 1H-NMR chemical shift values (δ, ppm) for the compounds 1–4 in pyridine-d5
.
1H
1
2
3
4
0.76 t (12.1) 0.77 t (12.5) 0.77 t (11.5) 0.76 t (10.8)
1
1.74 m
1.46 m
2.15 m
1.04 m
2.34 m
-
1.74 m
1.45 m
2.16 m
1.05 m
2.34 m
-
1.76 d (12.1)
1.47 m
2.18 m
1.05 m
2.35 m
-
1.75 m
1.45 d (12.3)
2.17 m
2
3
1.04 m
2.33 d (11.7)
-
4
5
1.05 d (12.5) 1.06 d (12.0) 1.06 d (12.2) 1.05 d (11.4)
1.90 m
2.33 m
1.90 m
2.38 m
1.91 m
2.42 m
1.91 m
6
2.33 d (11.5)

Molecules 2014, 19
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Table 1. Cont.
1H
1
2
3
4
1.32 m
1.38 m
-
1.33 m
1.37 m
-
1.33 m
1.37 m
-
7
1.35 m
8
9
-
0.91 m
-
0.90 m
-
0.90 d (6.9) 0.90 d (6.9)
10
-
-
1.67 m
1.70 m
1.91 m
2.24 m
-
1.68 m
1.70 m
1.93 m
2.25 m
-
1.67 m
1.70 m
1.90 m
2.23 m
-
11
1.66 m
1.89 m
2.24 m
-
12
13
14
1.79 m
1.79 d (11.2) 1.83 d (11.7) 1.79 d (11.0)
2.63 d (11.7) 2.70 d (11.1) 2.64 d (11.4) 2.63 d (11.0)
2.04 d (17.2) 2.05 d (17.3) 2.04 d (17.2) 2.03 d (17.7)
2.11 d (17.2) 2.11 d (17.3) 2.11 d (17.2) 2.10 d (17.7)
15
16
17
-
-
-
-
5.05 s
5.68 s
1.26 s
-
5.10 s
5.73 s
1.27 s
-
5.05 s
5.68 s
1.27 s
-
5.06 s
5.69 s
1.26 s
-
18
19
20
1'
1.23 s
1.25 s
1.27 s
1.23 s
5.98 d (8.4) 6.08 d (8.3) 6.07 d (8.4) 5.98 d (8.2)
2'
4.08 t (8.4)
4.28 m
4.13 m
4.40 m
4.33 m
3.95 m
4.12 m
4.23 m
4.24 m
3.98
4.08 t (8.6)
4.28 m
3'
4'
4.31 m
4.31 m
5'
3.74 m
3.72 m
4.28 m
4.43
6'
4.32 m
1'' 5.07 d (8.1) 5.13 d (7.7) 5.06 d (7.6) 5.05 d (7.6)
2''
3''
4''
5''
4.36 m
4.30 m
3.89 m
3.77 m
4.09 m
4.30 m
4.21
4.32
4.03
3.88
4.21
4.31
4.39 m
4.31 m
4.38 m
4.36 m
3.89 t (8.6)
3.80 t (7.6)
4.10 m
3.91 t (8.5)
3.77 t (7.6)
4.11 m
6''
4.43 m
1''' 5.58 d (7.8) 5.32 d (7.6) 5.60 d (7.8) 5.60 d (7.8)
2'''
3'''
4'''
5'''
4.13 m
4.27 m
4.18 m
3.96 m
4.33 m
4.55 m
4.16
4.25
4.28
3.96
4.39
4.53
4.16 m
4.29 m
4.19 m
3.97 m
4.34 m
4.54 m
4.14 m
4.28 m
4.19 m
3.97 m
4.33 m
4.54 m
6'''
1'''' 5.32 d (7.9) 5.80 d (3.7) 5.45 d (7.8) 5.47 d (7.6)
2''''
3''''
4''''
3.97 m
4.20 m
4.14 m
4.11
4.57
4.14
4.00 m
4.32 m
4.13 m
4.00 m
4.31 m
4.13 m

Molecules 2014, 19
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Table 1. Cont.
1H
1
2
3
4
5''''
3.83 m
4.30 m
4.52 m
4.03 m
4.29 m
4.54 m
4.02 m
4.31
6''''
4.54 m
1''''' 5.81 d (3.8) 5.75 d (3.8) 5.74 d (3.1) 5.87 d (3.4)
2'''''
3'''''
4'''''
5'''''
6'''''
4.16 m
4.55 m
4.12 m
4.49 m
4.13
4.61
4.21
4.34
4.13 m
4.59 m
4.15 m
4.32 m
4.14 m
4.54 m
4.12 m
4.49 m
1'''''' 5.87 d (3.7) 5.89 d (3.7) 5.78 d (3.1) 5.73 d (3.2)
2''''''
3''''''
4.14 m
4.55 m
4.12 m
4.49 m
NC
4.19
4.57
4.14
NC
4.14 m
4.62 t (9.3)
4.21 m
4.34 m
NC
4.12 m
4.59 m
4.16 m
4.32 m
NC
4''''''
5''''''
6''''''
NC
1'''''''
2'''''''
3'''''''
4'''''''
5'''''''
6'''''''
1''''''''
2''''''''
3''''''''
4''''''''
5''''''''
6''''''''
5.90 d (3.2) 5.78 d (3.2)
4.19 m
4.58 m
4.16 m
4.54 m
NC
4.14 m
4.62 t (9.2)
4.21 m
4.33 m
NC
5.90 d (3.2)
4.19 m
4.56 m
4.12 m
NC
a
b
Assignments made on the basis of COSY, HSQC-TOCSY, HSQC and HMBC correlations; Coupling
constants are in Hz; c Chemical shift values are in δ (ppm); NC: Not Characterized.
a,b
Table 2. 13C-NMR chemical shift values (δ, ppm) for the compounds 1–4 in pyridine-d5
.
13C
1
1
2
3
4
40.7 40.8 40.8 40.8
19.5 19.5 19.5 19.7
38.4 38.4 38.4 38.4
44.2 44.2 44.2 44.3
57.3 57.3 57.4 57.4
22.2 22.2 22.1 22.1
41.6 41.7 41.8 41.7
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
-
-
-
-
9
54.1 54.0 54.1 54.1
39.5 39.4 39.5 39.5
20.5 20.7 20.6 20.5
37.3 36.7 37.2 37.3
10
11
12

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Table 2. Cont.
13C
13
14
15
16
1
2
3
4
86.7 86.6 86.9
44.7 44.8 44.6 44.8
47.8 47.7 47.8 47.9
-
-
-
-
17 105.1 105.2 105.0 105.2
18 28.5 28.5 28.5 28.6
19 177.3 177.7 177.9 177.6
20
1'
15.8 15.8 15.7 15.7
95.4 95.6 95.7 95.4
73.3 73.3 73.9 73.3
77.9 78.0 78.7 78.0
80.1 80.7 70.6 80.1
2'
3'
4'
5'
77.4
ND
ND
ND
79.0 77.3
ND ND
6'
1''
2''
3''
4''
5''
6''
97.8 97.8 97.8 97.7
80.5 83.5 80.6 80.5
87.0 78.1 86.9 87.1
70.1 71.8 70.2 70.1
77.3 77.7 77.3 77.2
62.2 62.4
ND
ND
1''' 104.2 106.1 104.3 104.2
2'''
3'''
4'''
5'''
6'''
76.1 76.5 76.1 76.0
78.1 78.0 78.2 78.0
71.8 71.5 71.8 71.8
78.4
63.0
ND
ND
78.5 78.4
ND ND
1'''' 104.2 102.7 104.2 104.1
2''''
3''''
4''''
5''''
6''''
74.5 73.5 74.5 74.6
77.8 74.7 77.6 77.8
81.3 82.0 81.9 81.9
76.8
62.6
ND
ND
76.9 76.9
ND ND
1''''' 102.9 103.0 102.9 102.7
2'''''
3'''''
4'''''
5'''''
6'''''
74.0 73.5 73.4 73.9
75.0 74.8 74.7 75.0
71.6 81.4 81.9 71.7
75.1
ND
ND
73.3 75.1
ND ND
1'''''' 102.7 102.9 102.9 102.8
2'''''' 74.0 74.1 73.2 73.4
3'''''' 75.0 75.4 74.7 74.8
4'''''' 71.6 71.7 81.5 81.9
5'''''' 75.1
6''''''
ND
ND
73.3 73.4
ND ND
103.0 102.9
1'''''''

Molecules 2014, 19
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Table 2. Cont.
13C
1
2
3
4
2'''''''
3'''''''
4'''''''
5'''''''
6'''''''
1''''''''
2''''''''
3''''''''
4''''''''
5''''''''
6''''''''
74.0 73.4
74.9 74.8
71.8 81.5
75.1 73.4
ND
ND
103.0
74.1
74.9
71.7
ND
ND
a Assignments made on the basis of COSY, HSQC-TOCSY, HSQC and HMBC correlations; b Chemical shift
values are in δ (ppm); ND: Not Detected.
Acid hydrolysis of 1 afforded glucose which was identified in comparison of with standard sugars
13
as described in the literature [13–15]. The C-NMR values for all the carbons were assigned on the
basis of COSY, HSQC-TOCSY, HSQC and HMBC correlations and are given in Tables 1 and 2.
Figure 2. Key COSY and HMBC correlations of 1.
Identification of sugars present in 1 and their configurations were achieved by preparing their
thiocarbamoyl-thiazolidine carboxylate derivatives with L-cysteine methyl ester and O-tolyl
isothiocyanate, and comparison of their retention times with the standard sugars as described in the
literature; suggesting the sugar moieties present as D-glucopyranosyl units [16]. A close comparison of
1
the H and 13C-NMR spectral data of 1 with rebaudioside A suggested that compound 1 is also a
steviol glycoside which has a β-D-glucosyl substituent at C-19 and 2,3-branched β-D-glucotriosyl
substituent at C-13 leaving the assignment of the additional two D-glucose units. The downfield
chemical shift values (1H and 13C) of the C-4 position in sugars I and IV suggested the possible

Molecules 2014, 19
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placement of the additional glucosyl units at these positions which was further supported by the key
TOCSY and HMBC correlations as shown in Figure 2. Based on the results from chemical and spectral
studies, structure of 1 was assigned as 13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-
D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid-[(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-β-
D-glucopyranosyl) ester].
The molecular formula of compound 2 was also determined to be C56H90O33 by high resolution
1
mass spectral data. It’s H-NMR spectrum of 2 showed the presence of two methyl singlets, two
olefinic protons as singlets of an exocyclic double bond, nine methylene and two methine protons
(Table 1); similar to 1. The negative ESI TOF MS/MS spectrum of 2, fragmenting on the [M−H]− ion
at m/z 1,289 indicated that the most abundant ion is present at m/z 641.3180 and corresponds to the
loss of four hexose residues likely results at C-19 suggested that the glycoside at C-19 is composed of
four hexose residues and therefore the glycoside at C-13 should contain two hexose residues. Acid
hydrolysis of 2 furnished glucose suggested the presence of six glucosyl moieties in its structure. The
1H-NMR spectrum of 2 also showed the anomeric protons at δ 5.13, 5.32, 5.75, 5.80, 5.89, and 6.08,
1
identical to 1 suggesting the presence of six sugar units. The H and 13C-NMR values for all the
carbons were assigned on the basis of COSY, HSQC and HMBC spectra and are given in Tables 1 and
2. The large coupling constants observed for three anomeric protons of sugars I-III appeared at δ 6.08
(d, J = 8.3 Hz), 5.13 (d, J = 7.7 Hz), and 5.32 (d, J = 7.6 Hz) suggested their β-orientation as reported
for steviol glycosides, whereas the coupling constants for the other three anomeric protons of the
sugars IV, V and VI appeared at δ 5.80, 5.75, and 5.89 were obtained as 3.7, 3.8 and 3.7 Hz
respectively, suggested their α-orientation, similar to 1.
Further, the identification of sugars present in 2 and their configurations were achieved by preparing
their thiocarbamoyl-thiazolidine carboxylate derivatives as described for 1 suggesting the sugar
moieties as D-glucopyranosylunits. From the above spectral data and hydrolysis results, it was clear
that both compounds 1 and 2 are identical except for the connectivity of the glucosyl units to the basic
1
13
aglycone (steviol) skeleton and the orientation. A close comparison of the H and C-NMR chemical
shift values of 2 with 1, and stevioside suggested the presence of a β-D-glucosyl substituent at C-19
and 2-β-D-glucobiosyl substituent at C-13 leaving the assignment of the additional three α-D-glucosyl
units. A series of COSY, HSQC-TOCSY, HSQC and HMBC experiments suggested the placement of
the other three D-glucosyl units as α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-[α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-O-α-D-
glucupyranosyl at the C-4 position of the β-D-glucosyl unit at C-19, as shown in Figure 3. Thus,
structure of 2 was established as 13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-
en-19-oic acid –[(4-O-(4-O-(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-
glucopyranosyl ester].
The molecular formula of compound 3 was determined to be C62H100O38 by high resolution mass
spectral data which showed [M+H]+ and [M+Na]+ ions at m/z 1453.6035 and 1475.5829, respectively.
It’s 1H-NMR spectrum showed the presence of two methyl singlets, two olefinic protons as singlets of
an exocyclic double bond, nine methylene and two methine protons (Table 1); similar to 1 and 2. The
1H-NMR spectrum of 3 also showed the anomeric protons at δ 5.06, 5.45, 5.60, 5.74, 5.78, 5.90, and
6.07, suggesting the presence of seven sugar units. Acid hydrolysis of 3 furnished glucose suggested
the presence of seven glucosyl moieties in its structure. The negative ESI TOF MS/MS spectrum of 3,
fragmenting on the [M−H]− ion at m/z 1251 indicated that the most abundant and readily formed ion is

Molecules 2014, 19
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present at m/z 1289.5277 corresponds to the loss of one glucose residue suggested that the glycoside at
C-19 is composed of a single glucose residue and therefore the glycoside at C-13 should contain six
glucose residues. The 1H and 13C-NMR values for all the carbons were assigned on the basis of COSY,
HSQC and HMBC spectra and are given in Tables 1 and 2. The large coupling constants observed for
four anomeric protons of sugars I-IV appeared at δ 6.07 (d, J = 8.4 Hz), 5.06 (d, J = 7.6 Hz), 5.60 (d,
J = 7.8 Hz), and 5.45 (d, J = 7.8 Hz) suggested their β-orientation as reported for steviol glycosides,
whereas the coupling constants for the other three anomeric protons of the sugars V, VI and VII
appeared at δ 5.74, 5.78, and 5.90 were obtained as 3.1, 3.1 and 3.2 Hz respectively, suggesting their
α-orientation. Further, the identification of sugars present in 3 and their configurations were achieved
by preparing their thiocarbamoyl-thiazolidine carboxylate derivatives as described for 1 suggesting the
sugar moieties as D-glucopyranosyl units.
Figure 3. Key COSY and HMBC correlations of 2.
1
13
A close comparison of the H and C-NMR chemical shift values of 3 with 1, and rebaudioside A
suggested the presence of a β-D-glucosyl substituent at C-19 and a 2,3-branched β-D-glucotriosyl
substituent at C-13, leaving the assignment of the additional three α-D-glucosyl units. From the key
COSY, HSQC-TOCSY, HSQC and HMBC experiments, the placement of the other three α-D-glucosyl
units were assigned as α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-[α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-O-α-D-glucupyranosyl
to the C-4 position of the sugar-IV as shown in Figure 4.
The molecular formula of compound 4 was determined to be C68H110O43 by high resolution mass
spectral data which showed [M+H]+ and [M+Na]+ ions at m/z 1615.6498 and 1637.6302, respectively;
1
this was supported by 13C-NMR spectral data. It’s H-NMR spectrum showed the presence of two
methyl singlets, two olefinic protons as singlets of an exocyclic double bond, nine methylene and two
methine protons (Table 1); similar to 1–3. The 1H-NMR spectrum of 4 showed the anomeric protons at
δ 5.05, 5.47, 5.60, 5.73, 5.78, 5.87, 5.90, and 5.98, suggesting the presence of eight sugar units. Acid
hydrolysis of 4 furnished glucose suggested the presence of eight glucosyl moieties in its structure.
The negative ESI TOF MS/MS spectrum of 4, fragmenting on the [M−H]− ion at m/z 1613 indicated
that the most abundant and readily formed ion is present at m/z 1289.5223 which corresponds to the

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loss of two glucose residues likely results at C-19 suggested that the structure of 4 is composed of two
1
13
glucose residues at C-19 and therefore C-13 must contain six glucose residues. The H and C-NMR
values for all the carbons were assigned on the basis of COSY, HSQC and HMBC spectra and are
given in Tables 1 and 2. The large coupling constants observed for the four anomeric protons of sugars
I-IV appeared at δ 5.98 (d, J = 8.2 Hz), 5.05 (d, J = 7.6 Hz), 5.60 (d, J = 7.8 Hz), and 5.47 (d, J = 7.6 Hz)
suggested their β-orientation as reported for steviol glycosides,whereas the coupling constants for the
other four anomeric protons of the sugars V, VI, VII and VIII appeared at δ 5.87, 5.73, 5.78, and 5.90
were obtained as 3.4, 3.2, 3.2 and 3.2 Hz respectively, suggested their α-orientation.
Figure 4. Key COSY and HMBC correlations of 3.
Figure 5. Key COSY and HMBC correlations of 4.

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Further, the identification of sugars present in 4 and their configurations were achieved by
preparing their thiocarbamoyl-thiazolidine carboxylate derivatives as described for 1 suggesting the
1
13
sugar moieties as D-glucopyranosyl units. A close comparison of the H and C-NMR chemical shift
values of 4 with 1–3, and rebaudioside A suggested the presence of a β-D-glucosyl substituent at C-19
and a 2,3-branched β-D-glucotriosyl substituent at C-13, leaving the assignment of the additional four
α-D-glucosyl units. From the key COSY, HSQC-TOCSY, HSQC and HMBC experiments, the
placement of the other four α-D-glucosyl units were assigned as α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-[α-D-
glucopyranosyl-(1→4)]-O-α-D-glucupyranosyl to the C-4 position of the sugar-IV with an additional
α-D-glucupyranosyl attached to the C-6 position of the sugar-I as shown in Figure 5.
3. Experimental Section
3.1. General
NMR spectra were acquired on a Bruker Avance DRX 500 MHz instrument with a 5 mm inverse
detection probe using standard pulse sequences. The NMR spectrum was referenced to the residual
solvent signal (δH 8.71, δC 149.9 for pyridine-d5), chemical shifts are given in δ (ppm), and coupling
constants are reported in Hz. MS and MS/MS data were generated with a Waters Premier Quadrupole
Time-of-Flight (Q-Tof) mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization source operated in
the positive-ion mode and ThermoFisher Discovery OrbiTrap in the positive mode electrospray.
Samples were diluted with water: acetonitrile (1:1) containing 0.1% formic acid and introduced via
infusion using the onboard syringe pump. Analytical HPLC was carried out with a Waters 600E
multisolvent delivery system using Luna C18 column (250 × 10 mm, 5 μm) and Phenomenex Luna C18
(150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column. The details of various columns and other parameters used for HPLC
purification for methods 1–3 (Table 3) are given below:
Column: Phenomenex Prodigy ODS(3) with a Phenomenex guard column, 250 × 21.2 mm, 5 μm
(p/n 00G-4097-P0); UV Detection: 210 nm; Mobile Phase A: H2O; Mobile Phase B: Acetonitrile;
Flow Rate: 20 mL/min; Injection volume: 1500 µL at 40 mg/mL; Detection was by UV (210 nm).
Column: Phenomenex spherex diol, 250 × 10 mm, 5 µm (p/n 00G-0021-NO); Column Temp:
25 °C; Mobile Phase A: H2O; Mobile Phase B: Acetonitrile; Flow Rate: 5.0 mL/min; Injection volume:
150 µL prepared in H2O; Detection was by UV (210 nm).
Column: Atlantis C18 with guard column, 250 × 10 mm, 5 µm (p/n 186003694); Column Temp:
25 °C; Mobile Phase A: H2O; Mobile Phase B: Acetonitrile; Flow Rate: 5.0 mL/min; Injection volume:
150 µL prepared in H2O; Detection was by UV (210 nm).
3.2. Plant Material
A sample of glucosylated steviol glycosides was obtained from PureCircle Ltd. (Bandar Enstek,
Negreri Sembilan, Malaysia) which was prepared by the cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (produced
by Bacillus stearothermophilus) of the stevia extract with content of stevioside, rebaudioside A,
rebaudioside C, and dulcoside more than 98% [17]
.

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3.3. Isolation
An aliquot of glucosylated steviol glycosides (2 g) was taken to isolate new compounds 1–4. A
preliminary round of purification was performed using HPLC Method 1 (Table 3) and the material
eluting at 16.84, 17.47, and 19.45 min were collected, which on evaporation under vacuum furnished
Fractions 1–3 respectively. A second round of purification of Fraction 1 was performed using a diol
column with method 3 and the peak eluted at 14.17 min was collected from multiple injections, pooled,
and dried by rotary evaporation under reduced pressure which on final purification using HPLC
Method 2 over several injections with an atlantis C18 column and dried by rotary evaporation under
reduced pressure to provide 4 (tR 9.87 min, 3.2 mg). Purification of Fraction 2 using HPLC method 3
with a diol column and collected the peaks eluted at 10.36 and 12.01 min which on concentration
followed by a final round of purification using HPLC method 2 with an atlantis C18 column over
multiple runs furnished 2 (tR 13.14 min, 4.2 mg), and 3 (tR 13.33 min, 3.8 mg) respectively. Similarly,
final purification of Fraction 3 using HPLC method 2 over multiple injections with an atlantis C18
column and the pure compound was dried by rotary evaporation under reduced pressure to provide 1
(tR 18.52 min, 3.6 mg).
Table 3. RP-HPLC methods for the isolation and purification of steviol glycosides 1–4.
HPLC Method Time (min) % of Mobile Phase A % of Mobile Phase B
Method 1
0.0
8.5
75
75
71
70
66
66
0
25
25
10.0
16.5
18.5
24.5
25.0
30.0
0.0
29
30
34
34
100
100
28
0
Method 2
Method 3
72
72
20
20
60.0
0.0
28
80
100.0
80
13-[(2-O-β-D-Glucopyranosyl-3-O-(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]
ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid-[(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl) ester] (1). White powder;
13
1H-NMR (500 MHz, pyridine-d5, δ ppm) and C-NMR (125 MHz, pyridine-d5, δ ppm) spectroscopic
data see Tables 1 and 2; HRMS (M+H)+ m/z 1291.5458 (calcd. for C56H91O33: 1291.5443); (M+Na)+
m/z 1313.5277 (calcd. for C56H9O33Na: 1313.5262).
13-[(2-O-β-D-Glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid-[(4-O-(4-O-(4-O-
α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester] (2). White
1
powder; H-NMR (500 MHz, pyridine-d5, δ ppm) and 13C-NMR (125 MHz, pyridine-d5, δ ppm)
spectroscopic data see Tables 1 and 2; HRMS (M+H)+ m/z 1291.5479 (calcd. for C56H91O33:
1291.5443); (M+Na)+ m/z 1313.5286 (calcd. for C56H9O33Na: 1313.5262).

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13-[(2-O-β-D-Glucopyranosyl-3-O-(4-O-(4-O-(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-
glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid β-D-
1
glucopyranosyl ester (3). White powder; H-NMR (500 MHz, pyridine-d5, δ ppm) and 13C-NMR
(125 MHz, pyridine-d5, δ ppm) spectroscopic data see Tables 1 and 2; HRMS (M+H)+ m/z 1453.6035
(calcd. for C62H101O38: 1453.5971); (M+Na)+ m/z 1475.5829 (calcd. for C62H100O38Na: 1475.5790).
13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-(4-O-(4-O-(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-
glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid-[(4-O-α-D-
1
glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl) ester] (4). White powder; H-NMR (500 MHz, pyridine-d5, δ
ppm) and 13C-NMR (125 MHz, pyridine-d5, δ ppm) spectroscopic data see Tables 1 and 2; HRMS
(M+H)+ m/z 1615.6498 (calcd. for C68H111O43: 1615.6499); (M+Na)+ m/z 1637.6302 (calcd. for
C68H110O43Na: 1637.6319).
Acid Hydrolysis of Compounds 1–4. To a solution of each compound 1–4 (250 μg) in MeOH
(3 mL) was added 3 mL of 5% H2SO4 and the mixture was refluxed for 8 hours. The reaction mixture
was then neutralized with saturated sodium carbonate and extracted with ethyl acetate (EtOAc)
(2 × 15 mL) to give an aqueous fraction containing sugars and an EtOAc fraction containing the
aglycone part. The aqueous phase was concentrated and compared with standard sugars using the TLC
systems EtOAc/n-butanol/water (2:7:1) and CH2Cl2/MeOH/water (10:6:1); the sugar was identified as
D-glucose in all four experiments [13–15].
General Procedure for Acid Hydrolysis and Determination of Sugar Configuration in 1–4
Each compound 1–4 (500 μg) was hydrolyzed with 0.5 M HCl (0.5 mL) for 1.5 h. After cooling, the
mixture was passed through an Amberlite IRA400 column and the eluate was lyophilized. The residue
was dissolved in pyridine (0.25 mL) and heated with L-cysteine methyl ester HCl (2.5 mg) at 60 °C for
1.5 h. Then, O-tolyl isothiocyanate (12.5 µL) was added to the mixture and heated at 60 °C for an
additional 1.5 h. The reaction mixture was analyzed by HPLC: column Phenomenex Luna C18,
150 × 4.6 mm (5 µm); 25% acetonitrile-0.2% TFA water, 1 mL/min; UV detection at 250 nm. The
sugar was identified as D-glucose (tR, 12.26, 12.43, 12.46 and 12.51 min) in all compounds 1–4
[authentic samples, D-glucose (tR, 12.32) and L-glucose (tR, 11.08 min)] [16].
4. Conclusions
Four new minor diterpenoid steviol glycosides were isolated from a glucosylated steviol glycoside
mixture obtained by cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase treatment of a stevia extract obtained from
PureCircle. The new compounds were identified as 13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-(4-O-α-D-
glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid-[(4-O-α-D-
glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl) ester] (1), 13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]
ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid-[(4-O-(4-O-(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-
β-D-glucopyranosyl ester] (2), 13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-(4-O-(4-O-(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-
D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-
19-oic acid β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (3), and 13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-(4-O-(4-O-(4-O-α-D-
glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]

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ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid-[(4-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl) ester] (4), respectively, on
the basis of extensive NMR and mass spectroscopic data and chemical studies. To the best of our
knowledge this is the first report of the isolation of these four new steviol glycosides 1–4.
Supplementary Materials
Supplementary materials can be accessed at: http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/19/12/20280/s1.
Acknowledgments
We thank AMRI, Bothell, WA, USA for their help in providing necessary technical support.
Author Contributions
Indra Prakash and Venkata Sai Prakash Chaturvedula contributed equally to designed research,
performed research, analyzed the data and wrote the paper. All authors read and approved the
final manuscript.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Sample Availability: Samples of the compounds are not available from the authors.
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article
distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).