Abstract: | The absolute configuration of natural oblongolide is reassigned as (3aS,5aR,7S,9aS,9bS)-3a,5a,6,7,8,9,9a,9b-octahydro-7,9b-dimethylnaphtho1,2-c]furan-1(3H)-one 2 by a 7-stage synthesis of its enantiomer 1 from (+)-citronellol involving a regioselective reduction and an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction (IMDA) as the key steps. (+)-Citronellol was converted into methyl (2E,4E,10E)-(S)-(+)-11-tert-butoxycarbonyl-7-methyl-undeca-2,4,10-trienoate 7 by sequential Lemieux-Johnson oxidation, Wittig reaction, pyridinium chlorochromate oxidation, and Wadsworth-Emmons-Homer alkenation. A regioselective reduction of the methoxycarbonyl group in 7 afforded tert-butyl (2.E,8E,10E)-(S)-(+)-2,6-dimethyl-12-hydroxy-dodeca-2,8,10-trienoate 8 from which (+)-oblongolide was readily obtained via an IMDA reaction. |