Stereoselective synthesis of γ-lactone fused cyclopentanoids

The stereoselective synthesis of γ-lactone fused cyclopentanoids applying chemoenzymatic methods is described. rac-2-Hydroxymethyl-1,4,5,6-tetrachloro-7,7-dimethoxybicyclo2.2.1]hept-5-ene and rac-2-hydroxymethyl-1,4,5,6,7,7-hexachlorobicyclo2.2.1]hept-5-ene were successfully resolved by Candida rugosa lipase (CRL), to afford enantiomerically enriched products with an ee of 94 and 97%, respectively. The enantiomerically enriched acetates were then subjected to ruthenium and/or cerium catalyzed oxidation to afford α-diketones and subsequent alkaline H₂O₂ mediated oxidative cleavage reaction of α-diketones, followed by CH₂N₂ esterification, gave enantiomerically enriched γ-lactone fused cyclopentanoids with known absolute configurations.