Derris robusta is a tree species in the genus Derris found in India. Derrubone is an isoflavone, a type of flavonoid, originally isolated from D. robusta.
Four hitherto unknown prenylated isoflavonoids, named derrisisoflavones H-K (1-4) and one new isoflavan, namely 6-hydroxyisosativan (5), were isolated from the ethanol extract of Derris robusta. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic studies. To our knowledge, derrisisoflavones J (3) and K (4) are the first examples of hydroxyethylated isoflavonoid.
Four hitherto unknown 6a,11b-dihydroxypterocarpans, namely pterocarpadiols A–D (1–4), were isolated from the ethanol extract of the twigs and leaves of Derris robusta. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. Pterocarpadiols A–D are a kind of very rare 6a,11b-dihydroxypterocarpans, and their presence as markers may be helpful in chemotaxonomical classification.