Hiroyoshi Omokawa

A New Synthesis of (±)-9-Demethylmunduserone Thermal Rearrangement of Phenyl 2-Propynyl Ether and Its Application

A new synthesis of (±)-9-demethylmunduserone (2) is described. Thermal rearrangement of l-(4-benzyloxy-2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenoxy)-2-butyn-1-one (7) afforded 4-(4-benzyloxy-2-hydroxybenzoyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-2H-chromene (8), 3-(4-benzyloxy-2-hydroxyberrzoyl)-5,6-dimethoxy-2-methylbenzofuran (9) and 9-benzyloxy-2,3-dimethoxy-6a,12a-dihydrorotoxen-12(6H)-one (3). 4-Aroyl-2H-chromene (8) was smoothly converted to 3 in quantitative yield by the treatment with sodium acetate. The structure of 3 was confirmed by an alternative synthesis from methyl tephrosate (10). Debenzylation of 3 with aluminum bromide afforded (±)-9-demethylmunduserone (2) in high yield.