Enantioselective synthesis of the tricyclic furan moeity of azadirachtin, a potent insect antifeedant

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4020(96)00856-3

A synthesis of the enantiomerically pure right-hand part (2) of an insect antifeedant, azadirachtin, is described. Reduction with baker's yeast was demonstrated to be efficient for kinetic resolution of racemic diketone (4) to give 3 of ~75% e.e., from which was derived 2 in 11 steps.