Total Synthesis of Robustaflavone, a Potential Anti-Hepatitis B Agent

Abstract

Robustaflavone, a naturally occurring compound, is an inhibitor of hepatitis B virus replication in vitro. Robustaflavone is a biflavanoid composed of two units of apigenin (5,7,4‘-trihydroxyflavone) joined via a biaryl linkage between the 6-position of one unit and the 3‘-position of the other (I6,II3‘-biapigenin). The natural material was isolated from the seed-kernels of Rhus succedanea. To provide ready access to sufficient quantities of material for continued biological studies, as well as to provide a general route for the preparation of structural analogues, a total synthesis of robustaflavone was pursued. The total synthesis was approached by constructing apigenin ethers containing functionalities at the 6- and 3‘-positions which could be cross-coupled using transition metal catalysis. Key steps of the synthesis included development of a regioselective iodination of an apigenin derivative at the 6-position. Also key was the formation of an apigenin 3‘-boronate using a palladium-catalyzed exchange of the corresponding 3‘-iodide with a diboron reagent. Finally, identification of appropriate reaction conditions for Suzuki coupling to form the sterically congested 6−3‘‘‘ biaryl bond of robustaflavone provided access to the desired biflavanoid system. This work represents the first total synthesis of robustaflavone.