Synthesis and neurite growth evaluation of new analogues of honokiol, a neolignan with potent neurotrophic activity.

A versatile synthetic route is reported towards the preparation of new analogues for potent neurotrophic agent biaryl-type lignan honokiol. A focused 24-membered library of derivatives containing five different groups at 5'-position of honokiol has been prepared in fair to good overall yields. Compared to the natural product, or to analogues with a short alkyl chain in this position, these new derivatives have lost most of the neurotrophic activity.