Approach to the Total Synthesis of Acanthoside-D

Acanthoside-D, one of major components of Acanthopanacis Cortex, is known as a ginseng-like substance. it has been known to possess diverse biological effects. Acanthoside-D has a furofuran lignan structure and the synthesis of which poses interesting and often unsolved proplems of stereocontrol. Although a few interesting syntheses providing this natural product have been reported, an intermolecular McMurry coupling - intramolecular Mitsunobu cyclization route has not yet been explored. We report here a short and efficient synthetic pathway to the total synthesis of Acanthoside-D from aryl aldehydes and methyl acrylates via Baylis-Hillman reaction, intermolecular McMurry coupling and intramolecular Mitsunobu cyclization as key reaction.