Selective monocyclization of epoxy terpenoids promoted by zeolite NaY. A short biomimetic synthesis of elegansidiol and farnesiferols B-D

Org Lett. 2007 Feb 15;9(4):583-6. doi: 10.1021/ol062798i.

Abstract

Epoxy terpenes cyclize readily, by confinement within zeolite NaY, to form exomethylenic cyclohexanols as the major products. The selective monocyclization of 10,11-epoxyfarnesyl acetate within NaY provides a short and efficient biomimetic route to (+/-)-elengasidiol and (+/-)-farnesiferols B-D. [reaction: see text].