Expeditious Synthesis of Vialinin B, an Extremely Potent Inhibitor of TNF-α Production

A first total synthesis of vialinin B, a powerful inhibitor (IC(50) 20 pM) of TNF-alpha production, is described. The key reactions include a double Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of electron-rich aryl bromide with a couple of phenylboronic acids, a Cu-mediated Ullmann reaction, and a LHMDS-promoted phenylacetylation. This synthesis proceeded in 11 steps with 18% overall yield from a known sesamol derivative.