Process research on arylnaphthalene lignan aza-analogues:: a new palladium-catalyzed benzannulation of α,β-bisbenzylidenesuccinic acid derivatives

The discovery of a new Pd-catalyzed benzannulation reaction of bisbenzylidenesuccinimide during process research on arylnaphthalene lignan aza-analogues is described. An extension of the Pd-catalyzed benzannulation to the regiospecific synthesis of various arylnaphthalene lignan aza-analogues utilizing classical Stobbe condensation is included. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.