Two novel anthocyanins have been isolated from the stem of Allium vict
orialis. By means of chemical degradation and spectroscopy, especially
homo- and hetero-nuclear two-dimensional NMR techniques, the structur
es were determined to be cyanidin 3-O-(3 '', 6 ''-O-dimalonyl-beta-glu
copyranoside) (76.6%) and cyanidin 3-O-(3 '',O-malonyl-beta-glucopyran
oside) (13.8%). This is the first report of acylation of the 3-positio
n in the sugar moiety of any anthocyanin. The stability of malonyl sub
stitution in the 3 ''-position on glucose is higher than the correspon
ding 6 ''-malonylation.