Antioxidative phenylpropanoids from berries of Pimenta dioica

A phenylpropanoid, threo-3-chloro-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy phenyl)propane-1,2 -diol, was isolated from the berries of Pimenta dioica together with five k nown compounds. eugenol, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamaldehyde, 3,4-dimethoxyci nnamaldehyde, vanillin and 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propane-1,2-diol. I n addition, the stereochemistry of 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propane- 1, 2-diol was determined. The phenylpropanoids inhibited autoxidation of linol eic acid in a water-alcohol system. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All righ ts reserved.