The first total synthesis of dilignan Boehmenan has been achieved. A biomimetic oxidative coupling of the ferulic acid methyl ester in the presence of silver oxide is the crucial step in the synthesis sequence, generating the dihydrobenzofuran skeleton. Hydroxyl group was protected with DHP and reducted with LiAlH 4 to afford the intermediate diol. The diol was condensated with the derivative of ferulic acid, then removed the protecting groups, to get Boehmenan. Meanwhile, a study on the ring-opening reaction of the intermediate dihydrobenzofuran neolignan under base conditions was described.
several other lignans, aldehydes and a tyramine derivative were isolated from the acetone extract of core of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus). All the structures were established by spectroscopic methods. The hitherto unreported 13CNMR spectra of some compounds are also presented and discussed. 2D NMR techniques have allowed the revision of certain previously reported 13CNMR assignments of some scarce naturally