Facile Synthesis of (±)-Paeonilide.

(±)-Paeonilide, a novel monoterpenoid metabolite from the roots of Paeonia delavayi showing anti-platelet activating factor activity, is convergently synthesized in five steps with 59% overall yield. The application of benzoyl peroxide-promoted radical addition of unsaturated ester to aldehyde and subsequent topologically favored cyclization greatly simplified the synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]