Straightforward synthesis of (R)-(-)-kjellmanianone

A direct route to enantiomerically pure (-)-kjellmanianone is reported. The synthesis involves a cerium-catalyzed alpha-hydroxylation and an enzyme-catalyzed procedure to resolve tertiary alcohols at key stages. The intermediate beta-oxo ester was alpha-hydroxylated to give good yields of racemic kjellmanianone. The resolution of the racemic material was achieved by enzymatic saponification, followed by a chemical decarboxylation sequence to give enantiopure (-)-kjellmanianone with 99 % ee. Bromination then afforded the (-)-bromo derivative, whose X-ray structure provided evidence for the R configuration of (-)-kjellmanianone.