Isolation of new esters from the stems of Cinnamomum reticulatum Hay.

The stems of Cinnamomum reticulatum Hay (Lauraceae) were extracted with hexane and chloroform successively. A series of new esters, including a mixture of 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenethyl derivatives, along with two butanolides, isoobtusilactone A and obtusilactone A, two amides, N-trans-feruloylmethoxytyramine and N-cis-feruloyl-methoxytyramine, three benzenoids, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid and vanillic acid, one lignan, (+)-syringaresinol and one steroid, beta-sitostenone, were isolated. The structures of the new esters were elucidated by chemical and physical evidence.