The Synthesis of trans-Flavan-3-ol Gallates by Regioselective Oxidative Etherification and Their Cytotoxicity Mediated by 67 LR

We report on a chiral pool approach for the synthesis of trans-flavan-3-ol gallates from epichlorohydrin. The trans-flavan-3-ol gallates were prepared by the cycloetherification of the phenol at the C2 benzylic position of 2-acylozyl-1,3-diarylpropane during regioselective C−H oxidation. The 1,3-diarylpropanes were prepared starting from epichlorohydrin by epoxide opening with A and B ring precursors, followed by acylation of the resultant alcohol with galloyl chloride. The availability of both the enantiomers of epichlorohydrin allowed the preparation of the corresponding enantiomer using the same procedure. The cytotoxicity of the compounds against U266 cells was tested, in which 5-deoxy-7,3′-O-dimethyl gallocatechin gallate exhibited cytotoxicity that was more than ten times stronger than natural (−)-EGCG. In addition, the absolute configuration of the derivatives did not critically affect the biological activity.