Construction Of Heterocyclic Lignans In Natural Product Synthesis And Medicinal Chemistry

Abstract

Oxygen-containing heterocyclic lignans are chiral molecules for which a variety of preparative methods exist and which displays numerous biological activities. Hence, efforts towards their syntheses are highly important. Due to the diversity of this class of natural products, the usefulness of a given synthetic approach will depend strongly on the particular type of lignan that is aimed for. This chapter explains the classification of lignans and highlights examples of laboratory preparation, discussing the stereoselectivity and modularity of the synthetic routes for which a range of very different ideas are brought to bear. The motivation for work in this field often derives from the biological activity of these compounds, an aspect which is commented on as well.