A stereospecific transannular Diels-Alder approach to the [6.6.7] tricyclic skeleton related to aphidicolin and scopadulan natural products

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1995-4077

Model trans-cis-cis (TCC) macrocyclic triene 7 was synthesized using a convergent approach. Upon heating at 200°C, a 1,5-hydrogen-shift on the diene moiety was found to compete with the transannular Diels-Alder (TADA) reaction, thus leading to a mixture of tricyclic products. However, the diene rearrangement could be avoided by using boron trifluoride-diethyl ether complex as catalyst at reduced temperature (60°C). The exclusive formation of the trans-syn-cis [6.6.7] (TSC) tricyclic product 8 through an endo approach was observed. This result demonstrates the feasibility of a TADA strategy for synthesizing the title compounds and analogs.