Chemistry and biology of Bryophyta .108. Bibenzyl derivatives from Pellia epiphylla

Reinvestigation of the phenolic constituents from a diethyl ether extract of gametophytes of Pellia epiphylla yielded pellepiphyllin, 7-hydroxypellepiphyllin, perrottetin E, perrottetin E-11-methyl ether, 14'-hydroxyperrottetin E, 10'-hydroxyperrottetin E, 10'-hydroxyperrottetin E-11-methyl ether, 10,10'-dihydroxyperrottetin E and 13',13'''-bis(10'-hydroxyperrottetin E). The structures of three bisbibenzyls published earlier are revised. The new structures have been elucidated by two-dimensional NMR-techniques and chemical synthesis. In contrast to previous publications, pellepiphyllin has been found as a constituent of P. epiphylla. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.