Stereoselective total synthesis of (±)-sinularene and (±)-5-epi-sinularene are described. The sequence employs a "blocked" cyclopentadiene in which the cyclopropane unit also serves as a latent methyl group. Thus intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition of the substituted methyl spiro[2.4]hepta-4,6-dien-1-yl)-2-pentenoate 11 affords 5-benzyloxy-6-isopropyl-8-carbomethoxytetracyclo[5.4.01,7.02,4.02,9]undec-10-ene (12) which after selective hydrogenolysis generates the tricyclo[4.4.01,6.02,8]decane (sinularene) ring system. Removal of the secondary hydroxyl function (Ph3P/CCl4/CH3CN; H2/Pd/C), reduction of the methyl ester (LiAlH4), and introduction of the exocyclic double bond (acetate pyrolysis, 550 °C) completes the synthesis of (±)-sinularene in 14 steps from cyclopentadiene. A parallel series of reactions employing the isopropyl epimer of 12 affords (±)-5-epi-sinularene.
Catalysis‐Enabled Concise and Stereoselective Total Synthesis of the Tricyclic Prostaglandin D2 Metabolite Methyl Ester
