Process for the preparation of pharmacologically active amp;agr;-asarone from toxic amp;bgr;-asarone rich acorus calamus oil

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of high purity and yield &agr;-asarone, trans 2,4,5-trimethoxy cinnamaldehyde, 2,4,5-trimethoxy-phenyl propionone, from &bgr;-asarone or &bgr;-asarone rich Acorus calamus oil containing &agr; and &ggr;-asarone by hydrogenating, followed by treatment with DDQ with or without solid support of silica gel or alumina in dry organic solvent and &agr;-asarone can also be obtained by treating the hydrogenated product of &bgr;-asarone or &bgr;-asarone rich Acorus calamus with DDQ in an aqueous organic solvent to obtain an intermediate 2,4,5-trimethoxy phenyl propionone, which in turn is reduced with sodiumborohydride to obtain the corresponding 2,4,5-trimethoxy-phenyl propanol and followed by final treatment with a dehydrating agent.