Synthesis, crystal structure and bioactivities of α-asaronol

α-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 α-asaronol were obtained by a liquid interface diffusion method at room temperature. The product was characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, and FT–IR spectroscopic analysis. X-ray crystallography revealed the title crystal to belong to the orthorhombic space group P212121. Preliminary bioassays with mouse neuroblastoma N2a cells demonstrated the neuroprotective activities of the synthesized α-asaronol.