Synlett 2005(4): 591-594  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-863729
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Sulfanyl Radical-Induced Cyclization of Linalyl Acetate to the Iridane Skeleton: A Short Synthesis of (±)-Dehydroiridomyrmecin

Alejandro F. Barrero*a, Simeón Arseniyadisb, M. Mar Herradora, José F. Quílez del Morala, Jesús F. Arteagaa, Elena M. Sáncheza
a Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, Avda. Fuentenueva, 18071 Granada, Spain
Fax: +34(958)243318; e-Mail: afbarre@goliat.ugr.es;
b Institute de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Further Information

Publication History

Received 25 November 2004
Publication Date:
22 February 2005 (online)

Abstract

Sulfanyl radicals promote radical cyclization both in linalyl acetate (2) and its derivative 3, leading highly selectively to monoterpenoids with an iridane skeleton. We have investigated the addition of different sulfanyl radicals such as PhS , 4-NO2C6H4S and PhCH2CH2S and found that the latter radical produces the best ­results (87-93%). Natural iridoid dehydroiridomyrmecin (1) at an overall yield of 28% was synthesized in four steps using this method.

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The products 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 (see Table [1] ) were obtained as an unseparable mixture of diastereoisomers using conventional chromatography.

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General Procedure for Radical Cyclization (4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11). A solution of thiophenol (0.18 mL, 1.66 mmol) and AIBN (136 mg, 0.83 mmol) in benzene (16 mL) was added dropwise (8 mL/h) under an argon atmosphere to a boiling solution of 3 (200 mg, 0.83 mmol) in benzene (8 mL). The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. Purification of the residue by column chromatography (hexane-t-BuOMe, 20:1) afforded 9, 262 mg (90%, see Table [1] ).

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Compound 12: 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 1.17 (3 H, d, J = 7.1 Hz), 1.50 (3 H, br s), 1.69-1.81 (1 H, m), 1.90-2.04 (1 H, m), 2.13-2.25 (2 H, m), 2.82 (1 H, dq, J = 4.0, 7.0 Hz), 3.15-3.23 (1 H, m), 3.51 (1 H, br d, J = 12.9 Hz), 3.62 (3 H, s), 3.89 (1 H, br d, J = 12.9 Hz), 7.18-7.40 (5 H, m). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 14.1, 15.0, 24.4, 31.8, 36.9, 41.0, 50.0, 51.6, 126.5, 128.3 (2 C), 130.9 (3 C), 136.7, 138.9, 175.9. IR (film): 2946, 2844, 1731, 1583, 1479, 1437, 1378, 1197, 1170, 1088, 1024, 741, 691 cm-1. HRMS-FAB: m/z calcd for C17H22O2SNa [M + Na]+: 313.1238; found: 313.1239.

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Preparation of Dehydroiridomyrmecin ( 1).
Trifluoroacetic anhydride (1.02 mL, 7.32 mmol) was added to a stirred solution of sulfoxide 13 (560 mg, 1.83 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (73 mL) at 0 °C. The mixture was stirred for 30 min at 0 °C and then 1 N aq NaOH (18 mL) and THF (60 mL) were added and stirring continued for 4 h at r.t. The reaction mixture was extracted with Et2O and the combined organic layer was washed with aq NH4Cl and brine. Evaporation of the solvent followed by column chromatography (petroleum ether-Et2O, 5:1) furnished 60 mg (11%) of methyl 7-trifluoroacetoxy irid-1-ene-9-oate (14) and 140 mg (46%) of dehydroiridomyrmecin (1).
Compound 14: 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 1.12 (3 H, d, J = 7.0 Hz), 1.74 (3 H, s), 1.74-1.82 (1 H, m), 1.97-2.05 (1 H, m), 2.15-2.35 (2 H, m), 2.75 (1 H, dq, J = 3.9, 7.0 Hz), 3.03 (1 H, br s), 3.56 (3 H, s), 4.88 (1 H, d, J = 12.2 Hz), 4.97 (1 H, d, J = 12.2 Hz). 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl3): δ = 14.3, 14.4, 24.6, 37.3, 41.2, 50.1, 51.5, 63.4, 124.6, 128.4, 144.9, 175.6 (2 C). IR (film): 2952, 1783, 1734, 1457, 1348, 1220, 1164 cm - 1.
Dehydroiridomyrmecin ( 1): 1H NMR [400 MHz, (CD3)2CO]: δ = 1.01 (3 H, d, J = 7.2 Hz), 1.40-1.51 (1 H, m), 1.70 (3 H, s), 1.85-1.97 (1 H, m), 2.20-2.30 (1 H, m), 2.35-2.45 (1 H, m), 2.90 (1 H, quint., J = 7.2 Hz), 3.15-3.25 (1 H, m), 4.77 (1 H, d, J = 13.1 Hz), 4.87 (1 H, d, J = 13.1, Hz). 13C NMR [100 MHz, (CD3)2CO]: δ = 11.6, 13.6, 27.1, 38.3, 40.3, 46.9, 65.8, 130.0, 137.0, 174.9. IR (film): 2948, 1733, 1437, 1376, 1206, 1156 cm - 1. HRMS (CI): m/z calcd for C10H15O2 [M + H]+: 167.1072; found: 167.1070.