Cyclopropylmethyl Protection of Phenols: Total Synthesis of the Resveratrol Dimers Anigopreissin†A and Resveratrol-Piceatannol Hybrid.

We demonstrate the versatile use of the cyclopropylmethyl group to protect phenols through the total synthesis of two benzofuran-based natural products, that is, anigopreissin A and the resveratrol-piceatannol hybrid. This protecting group is a good alternative to the conventional methyl group, owing to the feasibility of introduction, stability under a variety of conditions, and its relative ease of removal under different acidic conditions.