Phenylpropanoid natural products containing a cinnamaldehyde motif were easily synthesized
from allylarenes mediated by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) oxidation.
Representative examples described herein are five types of 4-hydroxycinnamaldehyde
derivatives from monolignols biosynthesis, Boropinal C, and 7-methoxywutaifuranal
from plant extracts. Especially, simple synthesis of 7-methoxywutaifuranal was exploited
through selective mono-oxidation and subsequent isomerization–ring-closing-metathesis
strategy.
Key words
phenylpropanoids - DDQ oxidation - 4-hydroxycinnamaldehydes - boropinal C - 7-methoxywutaifuranal