Total synthesis of the marine sesquiterpene hydroquinones zonarol and isozonarol and the sesquiterpene quinones zonarone and isozonarone

The total synthesis of the naturally occurring sesquiterpene hydroquinones zonarol and isozonarol and the sesquiterpene quinones zonarone and isozonarone was achieved starting from beta-ionone, which was transformed via (+)-albicanic acid to (+)-albicanal and (-)-drim-7-en-11-al. Coupling of the aldehydes with lithiated hydroquinone ethers and further modification of the coupling products led to the target molecules. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.