Abstract
Root bark of West African tree Diospyros batocana HIERN, Ebenaceae, was examined. On the basis of chromatographic and spectral analysis it
was shown to contain the naphtaquinones 7-methyljuglone, 2-methylnaphthazarin, biramentaceone,
rotundiquinone, mamegakinone, diospyrin, diosquinone, isodiospyrin and batocanone.
This last compound proved to be the (-)-enantiomer of isodiospyrin-2′, 3′-epoxide.
The probable existence of β-dihydrodiospyrin, of a batocanone isomer and of an isodiospyrin
diepoxide in this material is mentioned. The partial synthesis of two isomeric isodiospyrin
di-epoxides is described.
Key Word Index
Diospyros batocana
- Ebenaceae - Naphthaquinones - Naphthaquinonyl epoxides
