An efficient route for the synthesis of methyl (-)-1,4a-dimethyl-5-oxodecahydronaphthalene-1-carboxylate by using baker's yeast-catalyzed asymmetric reduction

Methyl (-)-1,4a-dimethyl-5-oxodecahydronaphthalene-1-carboxylate 1, a key synthetic intermediate for the synthesis of terpenoids, was efficiently synthesized by using a baker's yeast-catalyzed asymmetric reduction of a sigma-symmetrical 1,3-cyclohexanedione derivative. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.