Synthesis, crystal structure and bioactivities of alpha-asaronol

alpha-Asaronol [or (E)-3'-hydroxyasarone; systematic name: (E)-3-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-ol; C12H16O4] was synthesized towards the development of a potential antiepileptic drug. Following purification by recrystallization, single crystals of alpha-asaronol were obtained by a liquid interface diffusion method at room temperature. The product was characterized by H-1 and C-13 NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopic analysis. X-ray crystallography revealed the title crystal to belong to the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). Preliminary bioassays with mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells demonstrated the neuroprotective activities of the synthesized alpha-asaronol.