Starting from double MOM-protected phloroglucinol, the facile total syntheses of bioactive
natural products pawhuskin C and schweinfurthin J were accomplished in good overall
yields. The Heck, Stille, or Suzuki coupling reactions of two different electron-rich
phenolic segments bearing geranylated or farnesylated units were involved in the decisive
step. The Sonogashira coupling reaction followed by palladium-catalyzed chemo- and
stereoselective cis-reduction of an alkyne unit and subsequent isomerization to give the desired natural
products is also described.
Key words
total synthesis - natural products - geranylated or farnesylated stilbenes - palladium-catalyzed
coupling reactions - phloroglucinol