Conjugate addition of arylmetal reagents to an α,β-unsaturated ketone.: Short syntheses of (-)-agatharesinol dimethyl ether and (-)-sugiresinol dimethyl ether

(-)-Agatharesinol dimethyl ether and (-)-sugiresinol dimethyl ether, derivatives of(-)-agatharesinol and (-)-sugiresinol isolated from Agathis australis and Cryptomeria Japonica, respectively were synthesized starting from a protected D-glyceraldehyde in five steps through 1,4-conjugate addition of arylmetal reagents to an alpha,beta -unsaturated ketone.