Exploration of High-Pressure Cycloadducts of Furans and Citraconic Anhydride as Precursors for CD-Ring Fragments of Paclitaxel and Its Analogues

Abstract

The high-pressure promoted Diels–Alder reactions between several furans and citraconic anhydride have been studied and the cycloadducts obtained have been explored in new straightforward routes to the CD-ring fragment of paclitaxel. The reaction between furan and citraconic anhydride afforded the exo cycloadduct diastereoselectively, whereas a variety of 2-substituted furans afforded approximate 1:1 mixtures of exo regioisomers. Separation of both regioisomers was accomplished after either diastereoselective esterification or regioselective reduction of the anhydride function. Ether cleavage of the bicyclic compounds by either high-pressure promoted ether cleavage or Boord elimination afforded several potential CD-ring precursors which can be used in the total synthesis of paclitaxel analogues.