Straightforward Preparation of Biologically Active Dimers of Ferulic Acid

Ferulic acid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid, Fig. 1) is an ubiquitous phenolic compound in plant tissues, and it constitutes a naturally occurring antioxidant compound found in many foods. The biological effects of this molecule and its esters are of particular interest as efficient inhibitors of trichothecene mycotoxin production by the plant pathogenic fungal species Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum which are the most common incitants of Fusarium Head Blight disease in wheat, barley and cereal grain crops. To date, a few synthetic and natural products have been reported as inhibitors of trichothecene biosynthesis. Among them, dehydrodimers of ferulic acid, referred to as dehydrodiferulates DiFAs are likely to be involved in plant protection against pathogen invasion.