Formal Synthesis of Ambrox® and 9-Epiambrox

Abstract
(-)-Drimenol (5) was used as starting material for the synthesis of diastereoisomeric diols 3 and 4, through the nitrile 7, Compounds 3 and 4 are the direct precursors of Ambrox® (1) and 9-epiambrox (2).