A chiral tricyclic terpene possessing a 6,6,6-tricyclic framework and a 3,3-dimethyl-7-oxooctylidenyl
side chain undergoes a double ring-closing reaction to give two chiral pentacyclic
terpenes in a ratio of 4:3 via an intramolecular Michael addition followed by aldol
condensation under basic conditions. Three new stereogenic centers are introduced
in the initial Michael annulation reaction. Stereoselective installation of an ethoxycarbonyl
group at C17 of the two pentacyclic terpenes separately gives the corresponding highly
functionalized pentacyclic terpenoids with seven stereogenic centers. The structures
and stereochemistry of key intermediates and products are established through X-ray
crystallographic analysis. A mechanism is proposed for explaining the stereochemistry
in the Michael annulation reaction.
Key words
1,4-addition - chiral synthesis - double ring-closing - pentacyclic triterpenes -
tandem Michael–aldol annulation