Total synthesis of Cinncassin A₁

In this communication, we report the first total synthesis of the phenolic natural product Cinncassin A(1), which was recently isolated from the twigs of the cinnamon plant (Cinnamomum cassia). The novel and concise synthesis strategy involves a highly diastereoselective titanium enolate homocoupling and a permanganate-mediated oxidative lactonization reaction as key steps. The structure of the compound was verified by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.