Thermoconversion of caryophyllene- to farnesene-type sesquiterpenes. Short access to the enantiomers of (6RS,7RS)- and (6RS,7SR)-6,7-epoxy-6,7-dihydro-β-farnesenes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/hlca.19940770106

Flash-vacuum thermolysis of the four diastereoisomeric 5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-caryophyllenes 1-4 at 500-550°/0.1-0.7 Torr leads to the hitherto unreported enantiomers of (6RS,7RS)- and (6RS,7SR)-6,7-epoxy-6,7-dihydro-β-farnesenes ((±)-5 and (±)-6, resp.). In particular, (+)-5 is formed in 45% yield (ca. 90% ee) and is, thus, an attractive chiral building block for natural-product synthesis.