A NEW APPROACH FOR SYNTHESIS OF ERYTHRO 8-O-4′ NEOLIGNANS

ABSTRACT Erythro-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2-(4-formyl-2-methoxy-phenoxy)-propane-1,3-diol, a 8-O-4′ norneolignan, has been stereoselectively synthesized in eight steps from ferulic acid. In this new route to prepare erythro 8-O-4′ neolignans the cis addition of mCPBA to a double bond with high regioselectivity was a key step, and its mechanism is discussed.