Caffeic acid phenethyl ester （CAPE）, the main biologically active component of propolis, has been successfully synthesized from caffeic acid and β-bromoethylbenzene catalyzed by Na2CO3 in a mixed solvent of HMPA-CH3CN. To better understand the struc^re-activity relationship of CAPE, phenylethyl-monobenzoylcinnamate and phenylethyl-dibenzoylcinnamate were prepared. Meanwhile, the structure of phenylethyl-monobenzoylcinnamate was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffiaction.
4-Acylated or 3,4-diacylated caffeic acid phenethyl ester （CAPE） was prepared as prodrug to improve its stability and lipid solubility. Their neuroprotective activities were assessed by H202 model and 6-OHDA model. The results showed that target compounds displayed positive abilities to protect PC 12 nerve cells from oxidative stress injury, superior to that of CAPE. Additionally, target compounds showed high blood-brain barrier permeability.
