Asymmetric Total Syntheses of Di- and Sesquiterpenoids by Catalytic C−C Activation of Cyclopentanones

To show the synthetic utility of the catalytic C−C activation of less strained substrates, described here are the collective and concise syntheses of the natural products (−)-microthecaline A, (−)-leubehanol, (+)-pseudopteroxazole, (+)-seco-pseudopteroxazole, pseudopterosin A–F and G—J aglycones, and (+)-heritonin. The key step in these syntheses involve a Rh-catalyzed C−C/C−H activation cascade of 3-arylcyclopentanones, which provides a rapid and enantioselective route to access the polysubstituted tetrahydronaphthalene cores presented in these natural products. Other important features include 1) the direct C−H amination of the tetralone substrate in the synthesis of (−)-microthecaline A, 2) the use of phosphoric acid to enhance efficiency and regioselectivity for problematic cyclopentanone substrates in the C−C activation reactions, and 3) the direct conversion of serrulatane into amphilectane diterpenes by an allylic cyclodehydrogenation coupling.