Abstract A convenient synthesis of (±)-deoxyschizandrin was achieved through the key step of reductive coupling of the bisacetonylbiphenyl (3). The latter compound was synthesized by oxidative cleavage of the bis olefin (5) formed by Claisen rearrangement of the bismethallyl ether of 2, 2′, 4, 4′-tetramethoxybiphenyl-3, 3′-diol. The synthesis of 2, 2′, 4, 4′-tetramethoxy-6, 6′-di (prop 1-enyl) biphenyl-3, 3′-diol (2) is also described. The ...