Three new 3-benzylbenzofuran-2-one derivatives from Homalium brachybotrys (Flacourtiaceae/Salicaceae s. l.)

Eight phenolic compounds, including two mixtures of two compounds, were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of leaves and stems of Homalium brachybotrys. They were identified on the basis of spectroscopic data as quercetin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside, luteolin-7-O-β-glucopyranoside, 5,6-dihydro-6-β-glucopyranosyloxy-3-(hydroxyphenyl-methyl)-2(4H)-benzofuranone (cochinolide 6-O-β-glucopyranoside) (1), 2-(6-benzoyl-β-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (poliothrysoside) (2), 2-(β-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-hydroxybenzyl alcohol (salirepin) (3), 4,5-dihydro-7a-β-glucopyranosyloxy-3-(hydroxyphenylmethyl)-2(7aH)-benzofuranone (isocochinolide-7a-O-β-glucopyranoside) (4), 5,6-dihydro-3-(hydroxyphenylmethyl)-2(4H)-benzofuranone (6-deoxycochinolide) (5) and 3-benzylidine-6-hydroxy-2-benzofuranone (1'deoxy-4,5,6-dehydrocochinolide) (6). Benzofuranones (4), (5) and (6) are new natural products. The compounds isolated support the argument that Homalium is best placed in the Salicaceae s.l.