A novel strategy for the efficient synthesis of Erianin

Erianin, a natural biphenyl compound found in Dendrobium, exhibits significant pharmacological effects, including anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we report a novel and efficient three-step synthetic route for Erianin, utilizing homovanillic acid and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde as starting materials. Our method integrates hydroxyaldehyde condensation, microwave-assisted decarboxylation, and mild double bond reduction, achieving a total yield of 45.3%—a 47.7% improvement over prior approaches. The developed protocol provides a cost-effective and scalable approach to access Erianin, offering significant potential for therapeutic research and drug development.