Some bioactive natural products such as terpenoids, neolignans and others have been synthesized by means of an electrochemical method, wherein anodic oxidation of phenols is carried out as a keystep.
By utilizing electrolysis under irradiation, isoitalicene possessing a unique tricyclo [5.4.0.01,5] undec-8-ene skeleton was efficiently synthesized in high yield from a phenol derivative bearing an olefinic side chain.
Some phenols with an olefinic double bond at the sidechain have been subjected to anodic oxidation under various conditions to afford tricyclo[5.3.1.01,5]undec-9-en-8,11-diones and two different spiro compounds, precursors of bioactive natural products.