Four new compounds from the seeds of Cassia fistula.

Four new compounds, 5-(2-hydroxyphenoxymethyl)furfural (1), (2'S)-7-hydroxy-5- hydroxymethyl-2-(2'-hydroxypropyl)chromone (2), benzyl 2-hydroxy-3,6-dimethoxybenzoate (3), and benzyl 2beta-O-D-glucopyranosyl-3,6-dimethoxybenzoate (4), together with four known compounds, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, (2'S)-7-hydroxy-2-(2'-hydroxypropyl)-5-methylchromone, and two oxyanthraquinones, chrysophanol and chrysophanein, were isolated and identified from the seeds of Cassia fistula. The structures of 1-4 were determined on the basis of spectral data explanation, and the synthesis of compound 1 was carried out.