Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, U.S.A
Abstract:
Treatment of the readily prepared enzymes 12, 21 and 45 with Co2(CO) at ca 110° results in high yields (80%) of substituted bicyclo[3.3.0]octenones, that are suitable for straightforward elaboration into coriolin and hirsutic acid precursors. A mechanistic hypothesis to explain the observed stereospecificity is presented.