New scalable and eco-friendly synthesis of gingerols

Synthesis of 6-gingerol and its congeners 7- and 9-gingerols has been achieved from eugenol by a new scalable and eco-friendly protocol. The key steps are functionalization of eugenol to the nitro compound and its reaction under optimized condition with terminal alkenes to afford intermediate isoxazolines. The latter on catalytic hydrogenation in presence of Raney nickel afford corresponding gingerols in good yields.