The metal-mediated oxidative coupling of caffeic acid esters has been employed in the biomimeticsynthesis of dimeric lignans and neolignans. Phenethyl and methyl caffeate esters were used as substrates and MnO2, Mn(OAc)3 and Ag2O as oxidative coupling agents. The manganese-mediated reactions afforded in good yields the unusual benzo[kl]xanthene lignans 6 and 15 as the major products accompanied by