Configuration-Odor Relationship in 5β-Ambrox

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/hlca.19900730717

The four possible A/B cis-fused diastereomers of Ambrox have been synthesized and their configurations and conformations established by X-ray and NMR analysis.Only 5β-ambrox (=1,2,3a,4,5,5aβ,6,7,8,9,9a,9bα-dodecahydro-3aβ,6,6,9aβ-tetramethylnaphtho<2,1-b>furan; 5) has an odor quality comparable to Ambrox.The 1,3-synperiplanar/diaxial conformation of the substituents at C(8) (=C(3a)) and C(10) (=C(9a)) has thus been confirmed to be a compulsory structure element for the particular odor.