Photooxygenation of 3-aryl-2-cyclohexenols: synthesis of a new series of antimalarial 1,2,4-trioxanes

Using easily accessible 3-aryl-2-cyclohexenols, a photooxygenation route for the preparation of bicyclic 1,2,4-trioxanes is reported. Several of these trioxanes have shown significant antimalarial activity against multidrug resistant Plasmodium yoelii in mice by the oral route.