Stereoselective total syntheses of (±)-1,14-herbertenediol and (±)-tochuinyl acetate and facile total syntheses of (±)-α-herbertenol, (±)-β-herbertenol and (±)-1,4-cuparenediol

Stereoselective total syntheses of (+/-)-1,14-herbertenediol (7) and (+/-)-tochuinyl acetate (10) and facile total syntheses of (+/-)-a=alpha-herbertenol (2), (+/-)-beta-herbertenol (3) and (+/-)-1,4-cuparenediol (8) have been successfully accomplished involving intramolecular cyclisation of 3-aryl-3-methyl-6-bromohexanoates and in situ methylation of the resulting cyclopentanecarboxylates as the key reactions. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.