Synthesis and structure revision of litseaone A

Abstract

Litseaone A, isolated from the stem barks of Litsea rubescens and Litsea pedunculata, is a chalcone derivative with a novel spiro-epoxide moiety. The structural revision of litseaone A was achieved by the racemic synthesis of the proposed structure and the asymmetric synthesis of the revised structure. The major tautomeric structure of litseaone A and the relative stereochemistry at the epoxide carbon center were also clarified.