A mild and convenient procedure for the conversion of toxic beta-asarone into rare phenylpropanoids: 2,4,5-trimethoxycinnamaldehyde and gamma-asarone.

Oxidation of beta-asarone (2) with DDQ gave trans-2,4,5-trimethoxycinnamaldehyde (3), which on treatment with p-toluenesulfonyl hydrazine provided corresponding alpha,beta-unsaturated hydrazone derivative (4). Reduction of 4 with sodium borohydride in acetic acid afforded gamma-asarone (1) in 43% yield.