An expedient synthesis of the fibril binding compound FSB via sequential pd-catalyzed coupling reactions

The styryl benzene derivative (E,E)-1-fluoro-2,5-bis(3-hydroxycarbonyl-4-hydroxy)styrylbenzene (FSB), well-known for its binding to beta-amyloid peptide fibrils, was synthesized in an efficient manner exploiting two sequential palladium(0)catalyzed coupling reactions in a 34% overall yield. This is a substantial improvement to the previously reported synthesis of FSB in 1.1%.