Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Copa and Ylango Sesquiterpenoids: (+)-Copacamphor, (+)-Copaborneol, (+)-Copaisoborneol, (−)-Ylangocamphor, (−)-Ylangoborneol, (−)-Ylangoisoborneol

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Abstract
Efficient, stereoselective syntheses of the tricyclic sesquiterpenoids (+)-copacamphor (3), (+)-copaborneol (4), (+)-copaisoborneol (5), (−)-ylangocamphor (6), (−)-ylangoborneol (7), and (−)-ylangoisoborneol (8) are described. Conversion of the keto acetate 9 (previously synthesized from the dione 1) into the keto tosylate 17 was accomplished via an eight-step sequence. Intramolecular alkylation of 17 afforded, in high yield, (+)-copacamphor (3), which had previously been converted into the corresponding alcohols 4 and 5 by Kolbe-Haugwitz and Westfelt. Alkylation of the enolate anion of the bicyclic dione 2 with 2-bromopropane in hexamethylphosphoramide gave mainly the O-alkylation product 19. Conversion of 19 into the keto mesylate 29 was carried out in 5 synthetic steps. Intramolecular alkylation of 29 afforded (−)-ylangocamphor (6). Reduction of the latter with calcium in liquid ammonia gave (−)-ylangoborneol (7), while reduction with lithium aluminum hydride yielded (−)-ylangoisoborneol (8).