Synthesis and Biological Activites of Wogonin

The roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi have been used in the chinese medicine for the treatment of inflammation, fever and headache. Recent studies had shown that baicalin and baicalein showed a detoxifying effect and could inhibit peripheral capillary permeability, and Wogonin was found to inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells. Wogonin has been synthesized as shown in schem. Compound 2 was prepared from 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone(1) followed by acylation to give compound 3. The base treatment of 3 gave cyclized product which was carried by deprotection of methyl group chemoselectively. Overall step included relatively simple ten steps.