Synthesis of (-)-auricularic acid and its C-4 epimer the absolute configuration of auricularic acid

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)80907-8

A synthesis of (-)-auricularic acid (2a) starting from methyl (+)-13-oxo- podocarp-8(14)-en-19-oate (3a) and a synthesis of its C-4 epimer (2b) starting from methyl (+)-13-oxopodocarp-8(14)-en-18-oate (3b) are described. The absolute configuration of natural auricularic acid is stablished as (4R, 5S, 8S, 9R, 10S, 14S).