EPC syntheses from bicyclic dixoanones; (−)-5-epidehydrofukinone

(?)-5-Epidehydrofukinone ((?) -15 ) has been synthesized from (2S,4aS,5S,8aS)-4a,5-dimethyl-2-(tert-butyl)-perhydro-4H-1,3-benzodioxan-4-one ( 4a ), a counpound readily available by yeast reduction of ethyl 2-oxocyclohexanecarboxylate.