The synthesis of desertorin C, a bicoumarin from the fungus Emericella desertorum

Abstract

The structure of desertorin C, a metabolite of the mould Emericella desertorum, is confirmed as 4,4',7,7'-tetramethoxy-5,5'-dimethyl-6,8'-bicoumarin (6), by its synthesis in racemic form. The key step involved the construction of the unsymmetrical biphenyl, 2,2',4,6'-tetramethoxy-4',6-dimethylbiphenyl (19), using dihydro-oxazole chemistry.