Three new dibenzoylmethane derivatives were isolated from petrol extra
cts of the roots of Lonchocarpus latifalius and L. muehlbergianus. Mol
ecular structures were determined from spectroscopic data, especially
NMR techniques. An alkyl group bonded to the central carbon (C-8) of a
natural dibenzoylmethane, had not been found before. Spectral data an
alysis suggested a preponderance of the respective diketotautomers. (C
) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.