Cobalt in synthesis

Structure at the starred position. Kametani has applied his o-quinodimethane approach to pentacyclic triterpene synthesis, and an interesting variant has come from Funk and Vollhardt in a paper which also illustrates the use of a metal (cobalt) in synthesis. The key step in their steroid route is shown in Scheme 3, proceeding via benzocyclobutene and ( -quinodimethane intermediates in analogy with the work of Kametani et al. Perhaps, one day, computers will suggest routes like that of Scheme 3 ... 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ , ]

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