Simple synthesis of benzofuranoid neolignans from Myristica fragrans

The total synthesis of four neolignans-fragnasols A (1), B (2), and C (3) and dehydrodiisoeugenol (4)-starting from the readily available phenol derivative isoeugenol (5) was accomplished. The key step of the synthesis of these natural products is a novel type of dimerization of 5 into 4 with iodobenzene diacetate.