The conjugate addition-alkylation to 5H-furan-2-one followed by cyclization
and controlled epimerizations have been applied to the synthesis of new fu
ro- and thieno-lignan analogues. Podophyllotoxin and thuriferic acid hetero
analogues have been obtained by this methodology, as representative members
of these families. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.