Total synthesis of Cinncassin A₁

In this communication, we report the first total synthesis of the phenolic natural product Cinncassin A₁, 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.