Synthetic Strategies for (−)-Cannabidiol and Its Structural Analogs

Abstract

(−)-Cannabidiol ((−)-CBD), a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid from Cannabis, and its structural analogs have received growing attention in recent years because of their potential therapeutic benefits, including neuroprotective, anti-epileptic, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and anti-cancer properties. (−)-CBD and its analogs have been obtained mainly based on extraction from the natural source; however, the conventional extraction-based methods have some drawbacks, such as poor quality control along with purification difficulty. Chemical-synthetic strategies for (−)-CBD could tackle these issues, and, additionally, generate novel (−)-CBD analogs that exhibit advanced biological activities. This review concisely summarizes the historic and recent milestones in the synthetic strategies for (−)-CBD and its analogs. © 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim