Synthesis of [(18) O2 ]-curcumin.

: Curcumin, a pigment isolated from rhizomes of Curcuma longa, is a potent cancer chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent and is now evaluated in phase III human clinical trials. This report describes an efficient synthesis of [(18) O2 ]-curcumin. [(18) O2 ]-Curcumin was prepared in three steps from 1-iodo-2-methoxy-4-methylbenzene in an overall yield of 53%.