Photoinduced molecular transformations. 157. A new stereo- and regioselective synthesis of 2,6-diaryl-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane lignans involving a β-scission of alkoxyl radicals as the key step. New total syntheses of (±)-sesamin, (±)-eudesmin, and (±)-yangambin

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00115a021

New total syntheses of naturally occurring 2,6-diaryl-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane lignans, (±)-sesamin and (±)-eudesmin, and the first total synthesis of (±)-yangambin were achieved according to a general method devised by Suginome and colleagues for replacing the carbonyl group of the cyclopentanone ring with an oxygen atom to give a corresponding tetrahydrofuran ring involving a regioselective β-scission of alkoxyl radicals; arylation of dimethyl, diallyl, or dibenzyl 3,7-dioxobicyclo[3.3.0]octane-2,6-dicarbonate (18 and 19a,b) with aryllead triacetate 9a-c, followed by dealkoxycarbonylation of the resulting arylated product 20a-f, gave 2,6-diaryl-3,7-dioxobicyclo[3.3.0]octane 21a-c. A regioselective Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of 21a-c with m-CPBA-NaHCO₃ or -K₂CO₃ gave the corresponding δ-lactone 22a-c, which was reduced with DIBAL to give the corresponding lactol 23a-c. The irradiation of a solution of the hypoiodite of 23a-c, generated in situ with mercury(II) oxide-iodine, in benzene with Pyrex-filtered light resulted in a regioselective β-scission of the corresponding alkoxyl radical to give iodo formate 24a-c. Heating 24a-c in MeOH with NaBH₄ gave (±)-sesamin (25a), (±)-eudesmin (25b), or (±)-yangambin (25c).