Synthesis of (±)-Epoxysorbicillinol Using a Novel Cyclohexa-2,5-dienone with Synthetic Applications to Other Sorbicillin Derivatives

Abstract
A novel route to epoxysorbicillinol as well as dimers of sorbicillin is reported. The synthesis isin principleamenable to enantioselectivity. The key step is an oxidative dearomatization to produce a stable and highly malleable p-quinol intermediate, which undergoes a highly diastereoselective epoxidation.