SYNTHETIC APPROACHES TO PHORBOLS VIA THE INTRAMOLECULAR DIELS-ALDER REACTIONS OF FURANS (IMDAF) - OXYGEN BRIDGE CLEAVAGE AND HIGH STEREOCONTROL DURING CYCLOADDITION USING ALPHA'-BENZYLTHIO SUBSTITUTED FURAN SUBSTRATES
High pressure mediated IMDAF of the alpha'-benzylthiofuran substrate 1 results in efficient and highly stereoselective cycloaddition; subsequent epimerisation of the cycloadduct 6 is regiospecific and the oxygen bridge may be opened by elimination or hydrolysis.