| Abstract: | The 2,5-dimethylidene-3,6-bis(Z)-(2-nitrophenyl)sulfenylmethylidene]-7-oxabicyclo2.2.1]heptane ( 13 ) can be used to generate polyfunctional and multicyclic molecules with high regio- and stereoselectivity via two successive Diels-Alder additions using two different dienophiles. This principle has been applied to the synthesis of (±)-11-deoxydaunomycinone ( 7 ), the aglycone of an important antitumor drug. The 2,3-didehydroanisole adds to 13 and gives the monoadduct 14 with high regioselectivity. No trace of bis-adduct is observed. The 1,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methoxy-3-methylidene-2-(Z)-(2-nitrophenyl)sulfenylmethylidene]anthracene ( 15 ) obtained on treating 14 with K2CO3 adds to methyl vinyl ketone to give (1RS, 2SR, 5RS,12RS)-5,12-epoxy-1,2,3,4,5,12-hexahydro-7-methoxy-1-(2-nitrophenyl)sulfenyl-2-naphthacenyl]methyl ketone ( 16 ) with high regio- and stereoselectivity. The acid-catalyzed 7-oxanorbornadiene→phenol rearrangement of 16 is regioselective and gives (5-acetoxy-3,4-dihydro-7-methoxy-2-naphthacenyl) methyl ketone ( 20 ) which was transformed into (±)-7,11-dideoxydaunomycinone ((±)- 24 ), a known precursor of 7 . |
