Total syntheses of bupleurynol and its analog

Abstract An efficient route to the natural products bupleurynol and its analog (RB-2), isolated from Bupleuri Radix , was established based on versatile intermediate ( 15 ). In this synthetic route, Sonogashira and Cadiot–Chodkiewicz coupling as well as Julia–Kocienski olefination are utilized as key steps. The highly efficient synthetic route provides opportunities to explore the biological behavior of bupleurynol and RB-2.