Identification of Three New Flavonoids from the Peels of Citrus unshiu

Three new flavonoids, 5,6,7,8,3′,4′‐hexamethoxyhomoflavone ( 1 ), 5,6,7,8,4′‐pentamethoxyhomoflavone ( 2 ) and 3,6,7,8,2′,5′‐hexamethoxyflavone ( 3 ) were isolated from the peels of mature fruits of Citrus unshiu Marcow (Rutaceae), together with the three known compounds 6,7,8,4′‐tetramethoxyflavone (=6,7,8‐trimethoxy‐2‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one), 3,5,7,8,2′,5′‐hexamethoxyflavone (=2‐(2,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐3,5,7,8‐tetramethoxy‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one), and scopoletin (=7‐hydroxy‐6‐methoxy‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one) of which the former two have never been isolated from natural resources, although they have been reported as synthetic compounds. The structures of 1 – 3 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analysis.