Diastereoselective synthesis of β-piperonyl-γ-butyrolactones from morita-baylis-hillman adducts. highly efficient synthesis of (±)-yatein, (±)-podorhizol and (±)-epi-podorhizol

Starting from a Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct we describe a simple and very efficient method for the diastereoselective preparation of hydroxylated β-Piperonyl-γ-Butyrolactones. To exemplify the efficiency of this approach we also describe a highly efficient synthesis for the biologically active lignans (±)-yatein, (±)-podorhizol and (±)-epi-podorhizol.