Synthesis of 5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-7-methoxy-2-(3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxyphenyl)-3-benzo[b]furancarbaldehyde, a novel adenosine A(1) receptor ligand from the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza

A novel adenosine A(1) receptor ligand, 5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-7-methoxy-2-(3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxy- phenyl)-3-benzo[b]furancarbaldehyde (1), is a constituent of the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza. Through biomimetic considerations, methyl ferulate was used as starting material for an eight-step synthesis of 1.