Profisetinidin-type 4-arylflavan-3-ols and related δ-lactones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0031-9422(90)89051-A

The natural occurrence of the first profisetinidin-type 4-arylflavan-3-ols, 4α- and 4β-(2,4-dihydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-(-)-fisetinidols, and a related δ-lactone, 7,8,9,13-tetrahydroxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2,3-trans-3,4-cis-2,3-10-trihydrobenzopyrano[3,4-c]-2-benzopyran-1-one in the heartwood of Peltophorum africanum is demonstrated. In the heartwood of Burkea africana the δ-lactone is accompanied by its 2-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)-analogue and the 3-O-galloyl ester of (-)-robinetinidol, the first gallate involving a 5-deoxy flavan-3-ol. The biogenetic implications of the coexistence of these novel metabolites are briefly discussed.