Stereoselective Synthesis of 2,4,6-Trimethylcyclohex-4-ene-1,3-diol Derivatives and of polypropionate fragments with four contiguous stereogenic centers

The Diels-Alder adduct (±)- 3 of 2,4-dimethylfuran and 1-cyanovinyl acetate was converted stereoselectively into benzyl 6-(4-chlorophenylsulfonyl)-1,3-exo,5-trimethyl-7-oxabicyclo2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-exo-yl ( 26 ) and -2-endo-yl ether ( 36 ). Addition of LiAlH₄ to the latter led to the 3-O-benzyl derivatives 28 and 37 of (1RS,2SR,3SR,6SR)- and (1RS,2SR,3RS,6SR)-5-(4-chlorophenylsulfonyl)-2,4,6-trimethylcyclohex-4-ene-1,3-diol, respectively. Methylenation of 6-exo-(4-chlorophenylthio)-1-methyl-5-methylidene-7-oxabicyclo2.2.1]heptan-2-one ( 16 ), obtained by reaction of (±)- 3 with 4-Cl-C₆H₄SCl and saponification gave, 6-exo-(4-chlorophenylthio)-1-methyl-3,5-dimethylidene-7-oxabicyclo 2.2.1]heptan-2-one ( 43 ), the reduction of which with K-Selectride afforded 6-exo-(4-chlorophenylthio)-1,3-endo-dimethyl-5-methylidene-7-oxabicyclo2.2.1]heptan-2-endo-ol ( 44 ). The 3-O-benzyl derivative 48 of (1RS,2RS,3RS,6SR)-5-(4-chlorophenylsulfonyl)- 2,4,6-trimethylcyclohex-4-ene-1,3-diol was derived from 44 via based-induced oxa-ring opening of benzyl 6-endo-(4-chlorophenylsulfonyl)-1,3-endo-5-endo-trimethyl-7-oxabicyclo2.2.1]hept-2-endo-yl ether ( 49 ). Benzylation of 28 , followed by reductive desulfonylation and oxidative cleavage of the cyclohexene moiety afforded (2RS,3SR,4RS,5RS)-3,5-bis(benzyloxy)-2,4-dimethyl-6-oxoheptanal ( 32 ).