Sustainable Synthesis of the Naturally Hypolipidemic Agent α-Asarone

Abstract

A short and practical preparation of α-asarone was developed using the inexpensive methylisoeugenol as a starting material. The utilization of a sequence of tribromination, debromination, and copper-mediated aromatic substitution enabled the stereoselective formation of only the E-isomer of α-asarone in good yield.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• α-Asarone
• atherosclerosis
• cardiovascular
• sustainable

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We acknowledge the generous support of Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (J. Tamaríz) for recording the NMR and HRMS spectra.

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

Spectral data for all compounds including ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra and HRMS for this article can be accessed on the publisher’s website.