Synthesis of resveratrol using a direct decarbonylative Heck approach from resorcylic acid

The phytoalexin resveratrol has been made using a decarbonylative Heck reaction. The acid chloride derived from 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid was coupled with 4-acetoxystyrene in the presence of palladium acetate and N,N-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)dihydroimidazolium chloride to give the substituted stilbene in 73% yield as the key step.