10.1021/jo800367r
The study presents a concise and efficient total synthesis of biologically interesting natural products mallotophilippens C and E. Mallotophilippens C and E are pyranochalcones isolated from Mallotus philippinensis, known for their potential in inhibiting nitric oxide production and other biological activities, making them promising candidates for new drug development. The key strategies in the synthesis involve ethylenediamine diacetate-catalyzed benzopyran formation reactions and base-catalyzed aldol reactions. The synthesis of mallotophilippen C starts from 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone (4), which undergoes a series of reactions including geranylation, cyclization, methoxymethylation, and condensation to form the final product. Similarly, mallotophilippen E is synthesized from 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone (4) through prenylation, cyclization, protection, and condensation steps. The synthetic routes are concise, involving only five steps, and provide a more efficient method compared to previous approaches. The synthesized compounds' spectral data match those reported in the literature, confirming their structures.