Enantioselective Synthesis of (–)‐Methoxyestrone

Abstract

AbstractEnantioselective synthesis of unnatural (–)‐methoxyestrone in 12 steps from the commercially available tetralone based on the formation of a chiral bicyclic intermediate having the A–B steroid ring framework was accomplished. The crucial synthetic step comprised the enantioselective conjugate addition of vinylmagnesium bromide to a chiral imine formed from a trisubstituted cyclic α,β‐unsaturated aldehyde with >98 % ee, giving rise to the stereoselectively substituted building block possessing the A–B steroid rings. Further steps included the construction of the side chain containing the triple bond, and the obtained enyne was subjected to a Pauson–Khand reaction that furnished stereoselectively an intermediate tetracyclic ketone. Further functional group transformations yielded the target compound.