Synthesis of 3, 4, 4a, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8a α-Octahydro-4a β, 8α-Dimethyl-2(1H)-Naphthalenones from the Wieland-Miescher Ketone

Abstract

Conversion of the Wieland-Miescher ketone to a bicyclic dienophile capable of providing the AB rings of the picrasane skeleton of the guassinoids required the introduction of a C-8α methyl group in a 2-decalone. Among the routes explored, the conversion of the Wieland-Miescher ketone to a 4,4a,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-4aβ-methyl-8-methylene-2(3H)-napthalenone and subsequent reduction to a 3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8aα-octahydro-4aβ,8α-dimethyl-2(1H)-napthalenone proved most useful.