A new series of l-arylnaphthalene lignan analogs having a variety of p
yridyl substituents at the C-1 position were synthesized in moderate t
o good yields by means of the Diels-Alder reaction by utilizing 1-pyri
dylisobenzofuran precursors with dimethyl fumarate, methyl acrylate, o
r dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate, followed by BF3 . Et2O-mediated ar
omatization. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.