Synthesis and biology of 1,4-benzodioxane lignan natural products

Lignan-derived 1,4-benzodioxane natural products have been shown to exhibit a diverse array of biological activities, which has lent them to be the focus of a wealth of synthetic attention. Herein we review the background, bioactivities, biosynthesis and synthetic approaches to the 1,4-benzodioxane lignan scaffold, with an emphasis on 1,4-benzodioxane oxyneolignans.