Diastereomeric Ellagitannin Isomers from Penthorum chinense

From the dried stem of Penthorum chinense (Penthoraceae), 1-O-galloyl-4,6-(R)-hexahydroxydiphenoyl (HHDP)-β-D-glucose and 2',4',6'-trihydroxyacetophenone 4'-O-[4,6-(R)-HHDP]-β-D-glucoside were isolated together with their (S)-HHDP isomers. Ellagitannins with a 4,6-(S)-HHDP-glucose moiety are widely distributed in the plant kingdom; however, 4,6-(R)-HHDP glucoses are extremely rare. Lowest-energy conformers of 1-O-galloyl-(S)- and (R)-HHDP-glucopyranoses were derived by density functional theory calculations, and the calculated (1)H and (13)C NMR chemical shifts and the (1)H-(1)H coupling constants were in agreement with the experimental values. The results revealed a conformational difference of the diastereomeric macrocyclic ester rings. In addition, a new compound, 1',3',5'-trihydroxybenzene 1'-O-[4,6-(S)-HHDP]-β-D-glucoside, was also isolated.