An HPLC study of copper(II) chloride treated Pisum sativum has shown that the cinnamylphenols obtustyrene [E-1-(4-hydroxy-2-methoxybenzyl)-2-phenylethylene] and xenognosin [E-1-(4-hydroxy-2-metboxy-benzyl)-2- (4-hydroxyphenyl)ethylene] as well as the chalcone 4,4′-dihydroxy-2′-methoxychalcone accumulate as de novo metabolites in the stressed plant. This chalcone has not previously been identified from a plant source. The biosynthetic and stress response relationships of these compounds are discussed.