Total Synthesis of the Polyoxygenated Sesquiterpenes Guignarderemophilanes C and D

Abstract

The total syntheses of the neural anti‐inflammatory agents guignarderemophilanes C and D have been accomplished for the first time starting from γ‐hydroxy carvone in 15 and 14 steps, respectively. The presented synthetic route proceeds via a known intermediate, whose synthesis has been elaborated in our group in the course of the total synthesis of the sesquiterpenoid periconianone A. Key for the successful conversion of this intermediate into both targets was finding a suitable strategy to install the 1,2,3‐trihydroxylated A‐ring scaffold. For this purpose, we effectively employed a Mitsunobu inversion, epoxidation, and regioselective epoxide opening sequence, before the bicyclic ring system was constructed by an aldol condensation reaction on a sterically demanding substrate. Our reported synthesis set the stage for SAR studies to prepare even more potent compounds by modification and derivatization of the natural product's scaffold.