Process for the production of (-) 3,4-divanillyl tetrahydrofuran

The present invention relates to a process for the production of (-)3,4-divanillyl tetrahydrofiran of formula (2) which comprises (a) isolating) (-) secoisolariciresinol of formula (1) from the heartwood and roots of Taxus wallichiana by an improved process which consists of partitioning of the alcoholic extract of the heartwood and roots of T. wallichiana between water and chlorinated solvent, (b) extracting the chlorinated solvent extract with alkali and (c) isolating (-) secoisolariciresinol from the alkali extract upon neutralization with mineral acid and extracting with organic solvent and (d) crystallizing it from suitable organic solvent, (e) dissolving the isolated (-) secoisolariciresinol in suitable organic solvent and (f) reacting with triphenyl phosphine halide at 0-80° C. for 1-10 hours and (g) isolating (-) 3,4-divanillyl tetrahydrofuran by column chromatography.