A ring-closing metathesis approach to a synthesis of the B ring of eleutherobin

A short and efficient RCM route is reported for the construction of the key nine-membered B ring of eleutherobin starting from the readily available 1,2,5,6-diisopropylidene-d-glucose.     

Synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methyl urocanates of hydroxyderivatives of isocembrol

Alcohols were prepared by stereospecific hydroxylation of isocembrol and were esterified into N-methylurocanates, proposed biomimetics of taxol. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 119–123, March–April, 2007.