A terpenic synthon for Δ1-cannabinoids

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00477a078

The reversal of the reactivity (i.e., umpolung) of carbonyl compounds when masked as dithioacetals has been shown to be of use for the elaboration of organic molecules. We have applied this principle to the synthesis of metabolites of Δ^1--tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, 1) by preparing the novel cis- and trans-terpenes 7 and 8, which contain the dithiane masking group, and condensing them with olivetol under acid catalysis.