Lignans and Alkaloids from Haplophyllum suaveolens

Summary.  A new lignan of the dibenzylbutyrolactone type, haplotonin, was isolated from the aerial parts of Haplophyllum suaveolens together with five known compounds-the alkaloids flindersine, 6-methoxyflindersine, N-acetoxymethylflindersine, and evoxine and the lignan 4-acetyldiphyllin. This is the first report on the occurrence of N-acetoxymethylflindersine in the genus Haplophyllum and on 6-methoxyflindersine and 4-acetyldiphyllin as constituents of the investigated species. Received August 10, 1999. Accepted (revised) October 12, 1999