ent-Eudesmane sesquiterpenoids, galloyl esters of the oak lactone precursor, and a 3- O-methylellagic acid glycoside from the wood of Platycarya strobilacea

Three ent-eudesmane sesquiterpenoids with cyclopropane rings were isolated from the wood of Platycarya strobilacea. [Display omitted] ► Three sesquiterpenes were isolated from the wood of Platycarya strobilacea. ► 2,4-Cyclo-7(11)-eudesmen-8-one was important as an aroma on charring of the incense. ► 6′- O- m- and p-digalloyl oak lactone precursor was isolated from the charred wood. ► Ellagitannins were decomposed on charring but gallotannins were relatively stable. ent-Eudesmane sesquiterpenoids, 8,11-dihydroxy-2,4-cycloeudesmane, 11-hydroxy-2,4-cycloeudesman-8-one and 2,4-cyclo-7(11)-eudesmen-8-one, were isolated from the wood of Platycarya strobilacea, which has been used as an aromatic tree since at least the 18th century. On charring the wood, 2,4-cyclo-7(11)-eudesmen-8-one was detected in the smoke. In the charred wood, the concentrations of ellagitannins, such as galloyl pedunculagin, dramatically decreased, whereas concentrations of pentagalloyl glucose, and other gallotannins were relatively stable. In addition, two other compounds, the 6′- O- m- and p-digalloyl oak lactone precursor and the 3- O-methylellagic acid 4′- O-(4″- O-galloyl)-xylopyranoside, were isolated from the charred wood along with m- and p-digallic acid.