First asymmetric synthesis of chiral 1,4-benzodioxane lignans

Abstract An asymmetric and regioselective total synthesis approach to 1,4-benzodioxane lignans was reported in which (2 R ,3 R )- and (2 S ,3 S )-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-hydroxymethyl-1,4-benzodioxan-6-carbaldehyde were synthesized firstly. A natural 1,4-benzodioxane neolignan was synthesized firstly by the synthesis approach.