The efficient synthesis and biological evaluation of justicidin B.

A facile new synthetic method for the preparation of a Type-A 1-arylnaphthalene lactone skeleton was developed and used to synthesise justicidin B and several derivatives. Key synthesis steps included Hauser-Kraus annulation of a phthalide intermediate and Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling between a triflated naphthalene lactone intermediate and various potassium organotrifluoroborates. With two exceptions, the derivatives showed significant inhibitory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse macrophages.

Total synthesis and dual PPARα/γ agonist effects of amorphastilbol and its synthetic derivatives.

Amorphastilbol (APH-1), isolated from a Robinia pseudoacacia var. umbraculifer [corrected] seed extract, is a biologically interesting natural trans-stilbene compound with dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α/γ agonist activity. After total synthesis of APH-1 and its derivatives by Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of a common (E)-styryl bromide intermediate and various aromatic trifluoroborate compounds, we biologically evaluated APH-2-APH-12 for PPAR agonist activity.