Synthesis of (±)-Cassumunins A and B, New Curcuminoid Antioxidants Having Protective Activity of the Living Cell against Oxidative Damage

Abstract
A chemical synthesis of cassumunins A (1) and B (2), natural curcuminoid antioxidants, was developed. The synthesis was started from o-vanillin and after nine reaction steps resulted in 20% and 26% overall yields of 1 and 2, respectively. The synthetic cassumunins showed stronger protective activity than curcumin against oxidative cell death induced by hydrogen peroxide in a rat thymocyte system.