Studies on the preparation of bioactive lignans by oxidative coupling reaction. IV. Oxidative coupling reaction of methyl (E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl)propenoate and lipid peroxidation inhibitory effects of the produced lignans.

Abstract

The oxidative coupling reaction of the hydroxycinnamate 11 derived from daphnetin has been investigated. The reaction with silver oxide afforded, after acetylation, a dihydrobenzofuran derivative 17 and a benzodioxane derivative 16a as major products accompanied with a small amount of a bis(benzylidene)succinate 18 and a dihydronaphthalene 19, while the oxidation with iron(III) chloride gave the dihydronaphthalene derivative 20 corresponding to 19. The reaction with potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) and Na2CO3 produced, after acetylation, 16a and 19 in lower yields. The propensity for product formation in the reaction of 11 is discussed in relation to data for the reactions of hydroxycinnamate derivatives studied so far. The obtained compounds were tested for inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenate and rat liver microsomes. In the rat brain homogenate the five compounds showed inhibitory activity more potent than that of idebenone. Compounds 17 and 20 were then tested in rat liver microsomes, and found to be more potent than schizotenuin A and much more potent than (+/-)-alpha-tocopherol.