Synthesis of marchantin C, a novel microtubule inhibitor from liverworts

Recently, remarkable microtubule inhibitor and anti-tumor activities of the bisbibenzyl marchantin C-isolated from liverworts like Marchantia polymorpha since 1983-were found. In this Letter we describe the first and efficient total synthesis of this subtype of bisbibenzylic compounds with two biarylether connections. The structure was confirmed by the spectroscopic data which were analyzed carefully to exclude any errors in arene connection and substitution pattern. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.