An Oxidative Decarboxylation of 7-Oxopodocarpic Acid Derivatives

Abstract

Treatment of the 7-oxopodocarpic acid derivatives (1) and (3) with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone affords the conjugated dienones (5) and (6) directly. The latter compounds have potential as optically active relays for the synthesis of 3-oxygenated diterpenoids . The stereochemistry of an epoxide (7) formed from the dienone (5) has been confirmed by X-ray crystallography.