Fundamental methods in ellagitannin synthesis

Abstract

This account describes methods for synthesizing natural ellagitannins. The ellagitannins, a class of polyphenols, has a wide variety of chemical structures and biological activities. Here, we focus on three topics, which are the synthesis of the hexahydroxydiphenoyl group, construction of the hexahydroxydiphenoyl bridge, and synthesis of C-O digallates. The hexahydroxydiphenoyl group and the C-O digallates are C-C and C-O coupled galloyl groups, respectively, both group of which are the two major components of ellagitannins. By combining methods described in this account, many ellagitannins might be synthesized.