Synthesis of [4.3.3]Propellanes by Carbenium‐Ion Rearrangement and Their Olfactory Characterization

Treatment of (+)‐sclareolide ( 1 ) with polyphosphoric acid or Eaton's reagent furnished, besides the anticipated cyclopentenone (?)‐ 12 and its isomer (?)‐ 15 , two diastereoisomeric 4.3.3]propellanes (?)‐ 13 and (?)‐ 14 , which possess interesting woody‐ambery odors. The hydrogenated derivative (?)‐ 17 possessed an even more‐powerful odor reminiscent of natural ambergris tincture. Mechanistic insight into this rearrangement was provided by a by‐product 24 of the reaction of sclareolide ( 1 ) with Eaton's reagent. The carbenium ion rearrangement was then employed in the synthesis of four related 4.3.3]propellanes 40 – 43 , illustrating the utility and scope of this reaction. The olfactory properties of the synthesized 4.3.3]propellanes as well as of the original target structures 10, 33 , and 34 , prepared from (?)‐ 12 and (?)‐ 15 , are discussed. Especially the pronounced ambra odor of (?)‐ 17 vividly contradicts the ‘triaxial rule of amber sensation' and provides new insight into the structural requirements for ambra odorants.