Chemical Synthesis Study Establishes The Correct Structure Of The Potent Anti -Inflammatory Agent Myrsinoic Acid F

A total synthesis of compound 3 from pbromophenol is reported and thereby establishing that this, rather than its cyclodehydrated counterpart 1 (as postulated originally), is the correct structure of the natural product myrsinoic acid F. The biological evaluation of compound 3 in a mouse-ear edema assay established that it is a significantly more potent anti-inflammatory agent than the NSAID indometacin.