A three-step enantioselective synthesis of (+)- and (-)-α-thujone

Org Biomol Chem. 2021 Sep 29;19(37):8018-8020. doi: 10.1039/d1ob01505b.

Abstract

The stereocontrolled three-step synthesis of either enantiomer of α-thujone from commercially available 3-methyl-1-butyne is described. The enantioselectivity originates from a Brown crotylation which is then conferred to the all-carbon quaternary center via chirality transfer in a gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization. The route is highly atom economical and requires no protecting groups or redox manipulations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.