Synthetic studies towards complex diterpenoids-VII : stereoselective synthesis and conformational analysis of all four possible racemates of 1,2,3,4,4a,9a-hexadydro-1-methylfluorene-1-carboxylic acids

Abstract

Synthesis of the unsaturated acid 3 through H₂SO₄- catalysed cyclodehydration of the keto-ester 1 and its conversion to lactone 4 are described. The PPA induced cyclization of the keto-acid 9, on the other hand resulted in a stereoisomeric mixture of the octahydroanthracene derivatives 10a and 10b. The four possible racemates of the hydrofluorene derivatives 5, 6, 7, and 8 have been synthesized by chemical and catalytic reduction of 3 and 4. Li-liquid ammonia induced reductive cleavage of the lactone 4 proceeds with 65% retention and 35% inversion of configuration at the benzylic C-4a asymmetric centre to afford the trans and cis acids 5 and 8 respectively, while catalytic hydrogenolysis of 4 proceeds with inversion to give the cis acid 8. Li-liquid ammonia reduction of 3 gives trans acid 6 and cis 7 in 23% and 53% yields respectively, whereas catalytic hydrogenation of 3 affords 81% of cis acid 8 and 13% of cis acid 7. Some conformational properties of the methyl esters 17, 18, 19, and 20 have been deduced from chemical and NMR spectral data.