Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Dieter Enders
The seminal synthesis of the sesquiterpene (±)-α-cedrene reported by Wender in 1981
offers a uniquely short and elegant access to the bridged-tricyclic target compound
by exploiting an intramolecular arene-olefin photocycloaddition. However, the synthesis
was performed only in the racemic series so far. This synthesis was now re-investigated
and the catalytic methods for the enantioselective preparation of the chiral key intermediate
were evaluated. It was found that Cu-catalyzed allylic substitution of a cinnamyl
chloride with MeMgBr in the presence of a Taddol-derived chiral phosphine-phosphite
ligand affords the corresponding (1-methylallyl)arene with high enantioselectivity
(94% ee). Hydroboration and subsequent Suzuki coupling gave (R)-curcuphenol methyl ether from which (–)-α-cedrene was prepared along the route paved
by Wender.
Key words
terpenoids - total synthesis - enantioselectivity - asymmetric catalysis - allylation
- photochemistry - copper - chiral P,P-ligands