The novel dimeric polyacetylene aciphyllal has been isolated from the New Z
ealand subalpine plant Aciphylla scott-thomsonii. The structure has been es
tablished by high resolution mass spectrometry and 1D and 2D NMR spectrosco
py. The compound represents the first polyacetylene from a higher plant wit
h a chain-length exceeding C-18. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
reserved.