engaged into Hiyama couplings with various iodoarenes, to give the corresponding 4-(α-styryl)-γ-lactones. The use of a specifically substituted iodoarene generated an advanced tetracyclic lactone intermediate incorporating rings A−D of lignans belonging to the podophyllotoxin family. Subsequent electrophilic aromatic substitution with a variety of electron-rich arenes afforded the target picropodophyllin