A Concise and Convenient Synthesis of Stilbenes via Benzils and Arylmethyldiphenylphosphine Oxides

Abstract

Abstract A new and convenient synthetic method has been developed for the construction of stilbenes bearing electron‐withdrawing group(s) by using benzils and arylmethyldiphenylphosphine oxides via sequences involving Wittig‐Horner reaction and a rearrangement in the presence of t ‐BuOK in toluene under mild conditions. This approach could be readily applied to a facile synthesis of biologically important natural products, resveratrol and its derivatives, such as trimethoxystilbenes 1 ( Z ) and 2 ( E ).