Synthetic Studies on the Natural Product Myrsinoic Acid F Reveal Biologically Active Analogues

The synthesis of the structure, 1, assigned to the anti-inflammatory natural product myrsinoic acid F is reported together with a means for preparing its Z-isomer 21. While neither of these compounds corresponds to the natural product, both of them are anti-inflammatory agents (as determined using a mouse ear edema assay) with congener 1 being notably more potent than the widely prescribed NSAID indometacin.