Identification of Sinapyl Alcohol Derivatives in Sicilian Lemon Oil (Citrus limon(L.) Burm. f.)

3-(3′, 4′, 5′-Trimethoxyphenyl)- propanyl acetate and propionate, as well as 3-(3′, 4′, 5′-trimethoxyphenyl)-2-propenyl acetate and propionate were identified in a low volatile fraction isolated from cold-pressed Sicilian lemon oil. The propionates are hitherto unknown natural products; the acetates have not been reported so far as constituents of lemon oil. The structures of these four obviously related compounds were deduced from spectroscopic data and confirmed by synthesis.