The constituents of Schizandra chinensis Baill. The cleavage of the methylenedioxy moiety with lead tetraacetate in benzene, and the structure of angeloylgomisin Q.

Abstract

Cleavage of the methylenedioxy moiety with lead tetraacetate in benzene to diphenol was described. Piperonylic acid methyl ester (5), 3, 4-methylenedioxytoluene (6), 2, 3-methylenedioxyanisole (7) and gomisin A (8) afforded protocatechuic acid (10), 3, 4-dihydroxytoluene (11), 2, 3-dihydroxyanisole (12) and compound 13, respectively, by the reaction. The structure of angeloylgomisin Q, isolated from the fruits of Schizandra chinensis BAILL. (Schizandraceae), was elucidated as 4 with the aid of the above reaction.