Propenylphenol plus allylphenol derived hydrobenzofuranoids, obtained by synthesis or from natural sources, are used to demonstrate evolution on the micromolecular level. Such neolignans carry sufficient information to instruct self-replication, as well as the replication of the other intermediates of cyclic reaction sequences. Modulation of temperature and acidity lead on to structural alternatives which compete with the intermediates of the cycles for starting material.