A novel strategy for the synthesis of benzofuran skeleton neolignans: application to ailanthoidol, XH-14, and obovaten.

A convenient and general approach to the synthesis of the benzofuran skeleton compounds ailanthoidol, XH-14, and obovaten was developed. Starting from vanillin, a series of reactions afforded 7 in 71% yield. Treatment of 7 with n-BuLi followed by addition of substituted benzaldehydes resulted in the formation of carbinols 11 and 31. The substituted benzophenones obtained from oxidation of 11 and 31 were treated with trimethylsilyldiazomethane lithium salt to give diphenylacetylenes 15 and 33, respectively. 15 and 33 were then cyclized in the presence of either mercury acetate in acetic acid or bromine in chloroform to give 3-chloromercurio- or 3-bromobenzofuran, respectively. The 3-chloromercurio intermediates could be reduced to proton or derivatized to ester or bromide, leading to the synthesis of ailanthoidol, XH-14, and obovaten, respectively. In addition, necleophilic substitution was used to introduce a formyl or methyl group into the 3-bromobenzofuran derivatives, providing an alternative pathway to XH-14 and obovaten. The final elongation and deprotection reaction furnished the desired ailanthoidol, XH-14, and obovaten in yields of 30, 15, and 11%, respectively.