Stereoselective synthesis of 7,11-guaien-8,12-olides from santonin.: Synthesis of podoandin and (+)-zedolactone A

Photochemical rearrangement of hydroxy eater 2, easily obtained; from santonin (1), afforded butenolide 4, a good starting material for the synthesis of 7,11-guaien-8,12-olides. Compound 4 has been transformed into compound 10, which has been used for the synthesis of podoandin (5) and (+)-zedolactone A (ent-6). Regioselective elimination of the acetyl group on C-10 afforded directly podoandin (5). For the synthesis-of ent-g, a hydroxyl group has been regio- and stereoselectively introduced at the 4 alpha-position through the 3 alpha,4 alpha-epoxide 15. The basic hydrolysis of the 10-acetyl group in compound 18 took place with concomitant intramolecular conjugated addition of the alkoxide to the butenolide moiety to give ether 19. Cleavage of the 7,10-oxido bridge via the lactone enolate afforded (+)-zedolactone A (ent-6). This synthesis has allowed for the establishment of the absolute stereochemistry of natural zedolactone A as the enantiomer of our synthetic-product.