Abstract: | Studies in Stereochemistry XIV. Diels-Alder adducts in the resin series; action of peracids and acid-catalysed ring opening of epoxides The synthesis of Diels-Alder compounds of type 2 with a 17-nor-13(14)-atisène skeleton is described (cf. Schemes 1–3). Depending on the nature and configuration of substituents R1 and R2 on the carbon atoms 15 and 16, an epoxide ( 24–33 ) or a ketone ( 35–38 ) or a mixture of epoxide, ketone and lactone is obtained by the action of p-nitroperbenzoic acid on the double bond of these adducts (cf. Scheme 4). A simplified reaction scheme is suggested to explain the formation of the various products. In an acid-catalysed reaction, the epoxides isomerize mainly into ketones. Nevertherless, in some cases, dienes (e.g. 52 ) or hydroxy-γ-lactones of (13R*, 14S*)-configuration (e.g. 50 ) resulting from the opening of the epoxide ring with retention of configuration were obtained. |