A Simple Total Synthesis of (+)-Ferruginol, (+)-Sempervirol, and (+)-Podocarpa-8(14)-en-13-one

Abstract

Abstract The Wittig reaction of (R)-(−)-α-cyclocitral with (3-isopropyl-4-methoxybenzyl)-, (4-isopropyl-3-methoxybenzyl)-, and (3-methoxybenzyl) triphenylphosphonium chloride afforded the styryl derivatives which were partially hydrogenated to the corresponding dihydro derivatives (18, 26, and 27). Intramolecular cyclization of 18 and 26 with anhydrous aluminium chloride followed by demethylation with boron tribromide gave (+)-ferruginol and (+)-sempervirol. The similar cyclization of 27 gave (+)-13-methoxypodocarpa-8, 11, 13-triene. This was reduced with lithium in liquid ammonia in the presence of ethanol and then treated with dilute hydrochloric acid to give (+)-podocarpa-8(14)-en-13-one, a versatile intermediate for natural diterpene synthesis.