The facile and efficient total synthesis of taspine was achieved
in 10 steps in high yield (16.5% overall) from commercially
available isovanillin. Key steps in the synthesis are preparation
of a symmetrical homodimer employing a classical Ullmann coupling reaction,
and introduction of an allyl substituent by the Claisen rearrangement
reaction. Significantly, the facile synthetic scheme proposed in
this work has the characteristics of mild reaction conditions, inexpensive
reagents, higher yield, and simple operation.
taspine - natural product - total synthesis - Ullmann coupling - Claisen rearrangement