Semiquinol and phenol compounds from seven Senecio species

In this paper, examination of the aerial parts of seven Senecio species from Serbia and Montenegro is reported. Phytochemical investigation of Senecio erucifolius led to the isolation and characterization of semiquinol butyl 2-(1-hydroxy-4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dienyl)acetate (I), along with methyl 2-(1-hydroxy-4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dienyl)acetate (jacaranone, II), and methyl 2-(4-hidroxyphenyl)acetate (III). The structure of I was established based on spectroscopic studies (¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, IR, and CI-MS). Compound II was also isolated from S. carpathicus and S. subalpinus. The presence of jacaranone in the methanol extracts of S. wagneri, S. othonnae, and S. paludosus was confirmed by LC/ESI-TOF MS.