Rapid screening and characterization of 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones in agarwood by UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS

•A data filtering and identification strategy for the rapid identification of 2-(2-phenethyl)chromones in agarwood based on the UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS was developed.•Mass defect filter windows were established based on Excel software settings of Microsoft office platform to filter compounds.•First detailed study of PEC monomers and their dimers based on LC-MS/MS.•A total of 138 2-(2-phenethyl)chromones were preliminarily identified from the agarwood extract, including 108 2-(2-phenethyl)chromone monomers and 30 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone dimers.