Syntheses and Configurational Analysis of Rotenoids, XIX The Total Synthesis of Natural Rotenone

Abstract
d, l-Derrisic acid (IIa, R': H) was synthesized from d, l-hydroxy-dihydrotubanol (Ve) by Hoesch condensation with a nitrile (VI). The possible optical resolution of d, l-IIa was demonstrated by a conventional “reversed resolution” method. This communication and previous works constitute the first total synthesis of natural rotenone (Ia).