A new unusual natural pigment from Selaginella sinensis and its noticeable physicochemical properties.

A new unusual pigment with a novel carbon framework named selaginellin (1) was isolated from the acetone extract of Selaginella sinensis, and its methoxy derivative (1a) was synthesized. Both selaginellin 1 and 1a are racemic compounds. The structure of selaginellin 1 was established as (R,S)-4-[(4'-hydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)-3-((4-hydroxyphenyl)ethynyl)biphenyl-2-yl)(4-hydroxyphenyl)methylene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-one and 1a as (R,S)-4-[(4'-methoxy-4-(methoxymethyl)-3-((4-methoxyphenyl)ethynyl)biphenyl-2-yl)(4-methoxyphenyl)methylene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-one by the analysis of one- and two-dimensional NMR data, HR-ESIMS, EI-MS, IR, UV, CD, and single-crystal X-ray experiments, and the mechanism of their color change according to different pH values and fluorescent properties was studied.