Total synthesis of tetracyclic sesquiterpenoids: (±)-ishwarone

Abstract

A stereoselective total synthesis of the racemic modification of the tetracyclic sesquiterpenoid ishwarone (2) is described. Treatment of the known ketal aldehyde 19 with dibromomethylenetriphenylphosphorane gave the dibromo alkene 20, which was transformed efficiently into the propargylic alcohol 21. The latter compound was converted via the intermediates 22–24 into the octalone 12, which in turn was transformed by standard methodology into the corresponding ketal 7. Treatment of 7 with bromoform–aqueous sodium hydroxide in the presence of a phase-transfer catalyst, followed by acid hydrolysis of the resultant crude product, gave the crystalline keto dibromide 27. When a solution of the corresponding ketal 26 in tetrahydrofuran–hexamethyl-phosphoramide containing methyl iodide was treated with tert-butyllithium, the monobromo ketals 28 (58%) and 29 (38%) were formed. Compound 28 was converted by means of conventional reactions into the keto alcohol 32. Attempts to transform the latter substance into (±)-ishwarone (2) proved unsuccessful. When the olefinic ketal 7 was allowed to react with dimethyl diazomalonate in the presence of copper bronze, the diester 44 was produced in good yield. The latter intermediate was converted via standard methodology into the keto dimesylate 47 which, upon reaction with lithium chloride in ether–hexamethylphosphoramide, gave the corresponding dichloride 48. Treatment of 48 with potassium tert-butoxide in tetrahydrofuran resulted in an intramolecular alkylation to provide the tetracyclic keto chloride 50. Reduction of 50 with lithium triethylborohydride in tetrahydrofuran afforded (±)-ishwarol (51) which, upon oxidation with pyridinium chlorochromate in dichloromethane, furnished (±)-ishwarone (2).