Two new homoisoflavonoids from Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Two new homoisoflavonoids, (E)-7-methoxy-3-(4'-methoxybenzylidene)chroman-4-one (1) and (E)-7-hydroxy-3-(3',4',5'-trimethoxybenzylidene)chroman-4-one (5), along with three known homoisoflavonoids (Z)-7-hydroxy-3-(4'-methoxybenzylidene)chroman-4-one (isobon ducellin) (2), (E)-7-hydroxy-3-(4'-methoxybenzylidene)chroman-4-one (bonducellin) (3) and (E)-7-hydroxy-3-(2',4'-dimethoxybenzylidene)chroman-4-one (4) were isolated from the whole plant of Caesalpinia pulcherrima. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by electron impact mass spectrometry (EI-MS) and 1D and 2D-NMR spectral studies. Antimicrobial activity of the new compounds was evaluated.