We describe the synthesis of 4,4'-oxyneolignan, the proposed structure for naturally occurring apteniol D. The diphenyl ether moiety in 4,4'-oxyneolignan was formed via classical Ullmann ether synthesis using excess copper powder in N,N-dimethylacetamide. The spectral data of synthesised apteniol D show differences compared to those of naturally occurring apteniol D.
Keywords: Aptenia cordifolia; Ullmann ether synthesis; apteniol; diphenyl ether.