Chemical Study on Haematoxylon campechianum : a Sweet Principle and New Dibenz[b, d]oxocin Derivatives

Abstract

The sweet principle of an extract of heartwood of Haematoxylon campechianum was identified s hematoxylin (1), the well-known staining reagent already isolated from this plant. In addition to 1, two new dibenz[b, d]oxocim derivatives (2 and 3) were obtained. The structure of 2, named hematoxylol A, was elucidated as 3, 4, 10, 11-tetra-hydroxy-7, 8-dihydro-6H-dibenz[b, d]oxocin-7-one. The latter compound (3) was purified as a tetramethyl ether (3')named tetra-O-methylhematoxylol B and its structure was assigned as 7-hydroxy-3, 4, 10, 11-tetramethoxy-7, 8-dihydro-6H-dibenz[b, d]oxocin-7-methanol.