SYNTHESIS OF (+)-8-DEOXYVERNOLEPIN

A short and efficient synthesis of (+)-8-deoxyvernolepin (2) from (-)-alpha-santonin (8), by functionalization of the angular methyl from a 2 beta- or 6 beta-alkoxy radical generated by reaction of the alcohol 6 or 7 with diphenylhydroxyselenium acetate and iodine and l,4-fragmentation of the gamma-hydroxystannane 35 using hypervalent organoiodine reagents as the key steps, is described. The most important structural features of this compound and other vernolepin congeners, the delta 8-valerolactone cis-fused to ring B moiety and the angular vinyl group, are introduced in the same step.