Alkyl orsellinates

There has been considerable activity in the synthesis of orsellinic acids in the past decade. On account of their ready decarboxylation all these procedures also give access to 5-alkylresorcinols. These routes are summarised in the scheme shown. Homologous alkyl acetoacetates (R = R = alkyl) with thallium ethoxide or sodium hydride followed by reaction with diketene (route a) afford the corresponding homologous alkyl orsellinates (ref.23). In a related method (route b) methyl orsellinate (R = Me) results from the interaction of the monoanion with the dianion of methyl acetoacetate (ref.24). 

A closely related methodology (route c) involves the dianion from a diketone (R = Me) with the anion of dimethyl malonate (R = Me) (ref.25). The bis-trimethylsilyl ether from methyl acetoacetate has been interacted with the ketalised acid chloride shown (R = CgH ) to furnish the methoxy carbonyl derivative of olivetol (route d) (ref.26). It was also found that pentane-2,4-dione with dimethyl malonate in the presence of sodium hydride afforded methyl orsellinate (ref.26). In a biomimetic approach (route e) a tetraketone has been enzymically cyclised to give the corresponding orsellinic acid (R=H, R = alkyl) (ref. 27). 

The use of open-chain precursors for obtaining the benzenoid ring in anacardic and orsellinic acids has proved a fruitful approach. Ethyl 2-methoxy-6-methylbenzoate (synthesised through the Michael addition of ethyl acetoacetate virith but-2-en-al, followed by cyclisation and aromatisation), has been alkylated in an aprotic solvent after formation of the carbanion with lithium di-isopropylamide (refs. 113,114) to give the anacardic after hydrolysis and demethylation (a). In a similar way ethyl 2,4-dimethoxy-6-methylbenzoate (ethyl orsellinate), (formed from ethyl acetoacetate and ethyl crotonate followed by cyclisation aromatisation and methylation (ref. 115)), has been alkylated (ref. 116, 117). In this way the C.,5 orsellinic acid precursor [R = C14H29 in route (b)] of the component phenols in Anacardium occidentale has been synthesised (ref. 118) and the method indirectly affords another route to the cardol series. 

Dyke HJ, Elix JA, Marcuccio SM, Whitton AA (1987) Oxidation of alkyl 1,6-dihydro-orsellinates. A new method for the synthesis of methyl orsellinate and homologues. Aust J Chem 40 431-434... 

Several groups of characteristic polyketides occur in lichens. Biosyntheti-cally they are closely related, being derived mainly from 6-alkyl-or 6-( -keto) alkyl-2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acids which further vary in their details of extra ring substituents (Table I). /3-Orsellinic acid units are not so widespread as fungal metabolites. The only report of such a recognized depside component in a free-living fungus concerns the occurrence, biosynthesis, and metabolism of 3-methylorsellinic acid (R = CHg) in Penicillium stipi-tatum (Scott et aL, 1971). 

---