(+)-Episesaminone, a Sesamum indicum Furofuran Lignan. Isolation and Hemisynthesis

Several lignans from Sesamum sp. contain an unusual oxygen insertion between their furano and aromatic rings. As part of our ongoing studies to clarify the biosynthetic pathway to the sesame lignans, the furanoketone, (+)-episesaminone, was isolated and fully characterized in part via hemisynthesis from (+)-sesamolin.