Abstract
An acylated anthocyanin trioside was isolated from pink flowers of Convolvulus althaeoides using a combination of chromatographic techniques. On the basis of MS (MALDI-TOF) and NMR (1H NMR, 1H-1H COSY, 1D TOCSY, HSQC, HMBC, 13C CAPT) its structure was determined as cyanidin 3-O-[6-O-(4-O-(6-O-(E-caffeoyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside]-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. The absolute configuration of the aldose enantiomer moieties was determined from the separation of the corresponding thiazolidine diastereoisomer derivatives by HPLC-DAD. This is a novel trisaccharide within the flavonoids, and the first complete characterization of a linear glucosyl-rhamnosyl-glucoside (4′-glucosylrutinoside) within the anthocyanins. Whilst acylation of rhamnose moieties in position 4 is quite common, the occurrence in anthocyanins of a glycosylated rhamnose is a unique trait. Although many complex anthocyanins have been found amongst the Convolvulaceae, the genus Convolvulus had not yet been surveyed for anthocyanins and thus this account could be of significance within the current chemotaxonomy of this family.