A9 l2,-Capnellene

Curran s synthesis of ( )-A9(l2)-capnellene [( )-2] is detailed in Schemes 30 and 31. This synthesis commences with the preparation of racemic bicyclic vinyl lactone 147 from ( )-norbomenone [( )-145] by a well-known route.61 Thus, Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of (+)-145 provides unsaturated bicyclic lactone 146, a compound that can be converted to the isomeric fused bicyclic lactone 147 by acid-catalyzed rearrangement. Reaction of 147 with methylmagne-sium bromide/CuBr SMe2 in THF at -20 °C takes the desired course and affords unsaturated carboxylic acid 148 in nearly quantitative yield. Iodolactonization of 148 to 149, followed by base-induced elimination, then provides the methyl-substituted bicyclic vinyl lactone 150 as a single regioisomer in 66% overall yield from 147. 

A9(l2)-Capnellene (1) is produced by a soft coral known as Cap-nella imbricata, and was First isolated in 1974.1 The compound serves the coral as protection against colonization by algae and larvae. 

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