Lignans and related phenols. Part 16. The biogenesis of podophyllotoxin

Abstract

The incorporation of DL-[β-¹⁴C]phenylalanine into podophyllotoxin (1) has been demonstrated. The subsequent stepwise degradation to 3′,4′-methylenedioxy-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzophenone bearing a ¹⁴C-carbonyl label establishes the in vivo synthesis of the carbon skeleton of this lignan.