Chiral dendralenes for rapid access to enantiomerically pure polycycles

Abstract

(Chemical Equation Presented) On a short fuse: Highly stereoselective and atom-efficient domino Diels-Alder/ lactonization/Diels-Alder sequences can be carried out using simple chiral [3]dendralenes to form fused-ring systems. This short and general approach to cross-conjugated systems promotes the rapid assembly of enantiomerically pure polycyclic ring systems common to biologically interesting terpenoids with virtually complete stereocontrol (see scheme).