Short Synthesis of COX-2 Inhibitor Inotilone

Abstract

An efficient three-step synthesis of COX-2 inhibitor inotilone from acetaldoxime is described. The structure of inotilone was elucidated via an aldol reaction between 5-methyl-3(2H)-furanone and 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde. This approach describes a convenient pathway to 5-alkyl-3-furanones through isoxazole chemistry.

Keywords:

• COX-2 inhibitor
• 3(2H)-furanone
• inotilone
• isoxazol ring

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We acknowledge, with thanks, the financial support from the Sultan Qaboos University. The authors are also grateful to Professor M. Khan (Sultan Qaboos University) for extremely helpful discussions.