The key step of the synthesis is the selective reduction of the double bond in 1 without cleavage of the benzyl group thus leading to the phenol 3. Alkylation with epichlorohydrine followed by nucleophilic epoxide ring opening gave the benzylated target compounds 5a–d. Subsequent cleavage of the benzyl group gave the 5‐hydroxy analogs 6a–d. Structure activity relationship studies showed, that the 5‐hydroxy