Synthesis of the natural product (+)-lithospermic acid with anti-HIV activity in an efficient route

What is it about?

Two strategies demonstrate expedient and concise routes for the synthesis of heptamethyllithospermate from readily available starting materials. Moreover, these two strategies were applied successfully in a total synthesis of (+)-lithospermic acid with an anti-HIV activity.

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Why is it important?

The firrst asymmetric syntheses of (+)-(R)-methyl lactate 3 (>99%ee) was completed in four steps with an overall yield of 75% from commercially available 3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde.