Synthesis of Antibiotic Stilbenes by Reductive Metalation of 3,4,5-Trimethoxybenzaldehyde Dimethyl Acetal

Abstract

Reductive metalation of 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde dimethyl acetal followed by reaction with suitable electrophiles is the key step of a reaction sequence leading to the synthesis of naturally occurring 4-alkyl-3,5-dihydroxy-substituted trans-stilbenes having antibiotic activity.