BACKGROUND

[0001] There is a need for safe, effective antibacterial and anti -inflammatory agents for use in oral care compositions. Magnolia extract is known to contain compounds having antibacterial and/or anti-inflammatory properties, and such compounds have been the focus of considerable interest for use in oral care compositions. The use of such compounds in oral care compositions is described, for example, in WO2001/085116, WO 2011/106492 and WO 2011/106493, the contents of which application are incorporated herein by reference. Methods of synthesizing magnolol (5,5'-diallyl-biphenyl-2,2'-diol) are disclosed, e,g, in WO 2011/106003. Synthetic non-natural analogs of various components of magnolia extract having other alkyls in place of allyl are also known to have antibacterial activity, but the compounds are in some cases expensive or difficult to synthesize.

[0002] Existing synthetic methods for magnolol involve costly reagents and yields are low. There is a need for cheaper, higher yield synthetic procedures to make magnolol and related compounds.

SUMMARY

[0003] Previous synthetic approaches to making magnolol generally start with bromination of biphenyl-2,2'-diol, to get the 5,5'-dibromo- biphenyl-2,2'-diol, followed by O-protection, with methyl or other O-protecting group, reaction with allyl bromide to get the magnolol in protected form, and deprotection to obtain magnolol (5,5'-diallyl-biphenyl-2,2'-diol, sometimes named as 4,4'-diallyl-2,2'biphenol). We have found that on scale up, the step of O-protecting the 5,5'- dibromo- biphenyl-2,2'-diol is inefficient and slow. We have found that carrying out the O- protection step before the bromination step results in a more efficient reaction and higher yields.

[0004] The deprotection step is another expensive and yield limiting step in the existing processes. The methods reported for demethylation are often costly, and require sometimes very low temperatures (-78°C using BBr ₃ ) and sometimes reflux conditions. The reaction mixture is always difficult to separate and purify which results in low yield of magnolol. We have found that the use of an aluminium chloride / thiourea complex for deprotection does not require extreme temperatures or expensive reagents and results in high yields. [0005] Some embodiments of the present invention provide a simple, relatively high yield synthesis for magnolol (5,5'-diallyl-biphenyl-2,2'-diol), comprising

(i) methylating biphenyl-2,2'-diol using dimethyl sulfate, to obtain 2,2'- dimethoxy-biphenyl;

(ii) brominating the 2,2'-dimethoxy-biphenyl to obtain 2,2'-dimethoxy-5,5'- dibromo-biphenyl;

(iii) alkylating the 2,2'-dimethoxy-5,5'-dibromo-biphenyl with allyl bromide to obtain 2,2'-dimethoxy-5,5 '-diallyl-biphenyl;

(iv) demethylating the 2,2 '-dimethoxy-5, 5 '-diallyl-biphenyl by reaction with aluminium chloride and thiourea; and

(v) recovering the 5,5 '-diallyl-biphenyl -2,2 '-diol thus obtained.

[0006] In some embodiments, the present invention further provides a method for production of tetrahydromagnolol (5,5'-dipropyl-biphenyl-2,2'-diol), comprising hydrogenating the 5,5'- diallyl-biphenyl-2,2'-diol product of the foregoing method, e.g., in the presence of a palladium or nickel catalyst.

[0007] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] The invention thus provides a method (Method 1) for making magnolol (5,5 '-diallyl- biphenyl -2,2 '-diol), comprising

(i) methylating biphenyl-2,2'-diol using dimethyl sulfate, to obtain 2,2'- dimethoxy-biphenyl;

(ii) brominating the 2,2'-dimethoxy-biphenyl to obtain 2,2'-dimethoxy-5,5'- dibromo-biphenyl;

(iii) alkylating the 2,2 '-dimethoxy-5, 5 '-dibromo-biphenyl with allyl bromide to obtain 2,2 '-dimethoxy-5, 5 '-diallyl-biphenyl;

(iv) demethylating the 2,2 '-dimethoxy-5, 5 '-diallyl-biphenyl by reaction with aluminium chloride and thiourea; and (v) recovering the 5,5 '-diallyl-biphenyl-2,2'-diol thus obtained.

1.1. Method 1 wherein step (i) is carried out in aqueous media in presence of an

inorganic base, e.g., sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.

1.2. Any of the foregoing methods wherein step (iii) is carried out in a polar aprotic solvent, e.g., tetrahydrofuran (THF).

1.3. Any of the foregoing methods wherein the demethylation step (iv) is carried out at temperatures between 30°C and 60°C.

[0009] The general reaction scheme is as follows:

[0010] As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference, the present disclosure controls.

[0011] Unless otherwise specified, all percentages and amounts expressed herein and elsewhere in the specification should be understood to refer to percentages by weight. The amounts given are based on the active weight of the material. EXAMPLE

Example 1: Synthesis of magnolol (5,5'-diallyl-biphenyl-2,2'-diol)

[0012] 2,2'-Biphenol is reacted in sodium hydroxide with dimethyl sulfate for 1-2 hours to give 2,2'-bianisole (95% yield). Solid is separated, washed with water and dried at 60-65°C.

[0013] 2,2'-bianisole is efficiently brominated to give 4,4'-Dibromo-2,2'-bianisole which is then reacted with allyl bromide in THF to obtain 4,4'-Diallyl-2,2'-bianisole.

[0014] The 4,4'-diallyl-2,2'-bianisole is added to a mixture of aluminum chloride, thiourea and 1 ,2-dichloroethane slowly over 3 hours at 50°C. Temperature and stirring is maintained for an additional 3-4 hours. Reaction mix is cooled and added to HC1 and phases are separated. The organic layer is added to charcoal, filtered and the solvent distilled, to obtain the title compound.