A new Pd-catalyzed route to (+/-)-podophyllotoxin is disclosed, The strategy is based on an efficient organoaqueous reaction that diastereoselectivity introduces the C-4 hydroxyl group and the furan ring. Further functionalization led to all iododerivative. which was cyclized under optimized conditions either to the aryltetralin of (+/-)-podophyllotoxin or to a five-membered ring isomer. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.