Two pairs of enantiomeric neolignans from Lobelia chinensis

A pair of new enantiomeric neolignans, ethyl 3-[(2R,3S)-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl] propanoate (+) (1) and ethyl 3-[(2S,3R)-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl] propanoate (-) (1), together with a pair of known enantiomeric neolignans (+) (2) and (-) (2), as well as five known lignans (3-7) were isolated from the ethanol extract of Lobelia chinensis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS and CD spectra.