Two isomeric 4-phenyl coumarins, 3′,7-dihydroxy-4′,5-dimethoxy-4-phenylcoumarin seshadrin from Dalbergia volubilis 3′,5-dihydroxy-4′,7-dimethoxy-4-phenylcoumarin from Exostema caribaeum have been synthesized. However, the spectral properties of the former were not in conformity with those reported for the natural product, seshadrin. © 1991.