Diastereoselective synthesis of β-piperonyl-γ-butyrolactones from Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts. highly efficient synthesis of (±)-yatein, (±)-podorhizol and (±)-epi-podorhizol

Abstract

Starting from a Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct we describe a simple and very efficient method for the diastereoselective preparation of hydroxylated β-piperonyl-γ-butyrolactones. To exemplify the efficiency of this approach we also describe a highly efficient synthesis for the biologically active lignans (±)-yatein, (±)-podorhizol and (±)-epi- podorhizol. © 2010 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.