Syntheses and antifungal activities of dl-griseofulvin and its congeners. I.

dl-Griseofulvin (1a) was prepared by two synthetic pathways. New 6'-congeners (3 and 4) of griseofulvin were also prepared. Their antifungal activities were evaluated and compounds 3 and 4 were found to be less active than 1a. Molecular calculations on 1a, dl-epigriseofulvin (1b), 3 and 4 were undertaken.