The first stereoselective total synthesis of a new antitumour and anti-inflammatory neolignan, surinamensinol A

Abstract

The stereoselective total synthesis of an antitumour and anti-inflammatory 8-O-4′-neolignan, surinamensinol A has been accomplished starting from two aldehydes, 3,4,5-trimethoxy benzaldehyde and vanillin. The key steps involve an asymmetric reduction using a chiral oxazaborolidine complex, a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxyllation and a Mitsunobu reaction. This is the first report of the total synthesis of surinamensinol A.