Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (±)-Peribysin E

Radical cyclization of iodoketone 3 afforded cis-hydrindanone 8. Compound 8 was converted into key intermediate 5 via conventional transformations. Annulation of a spiro-lactal unit to 5 was pursued with three different approaches. In the first approach, radical cyclization of propargyl ester 17 provided spiro-lactone 18 with an undesired stereochemistry. Attempts to invert the stereochemistry at the spiro-center via retro-aldol and aldol condensation of compound 20 failed. In the second approach, key intermediate 5 was transformed into 23. Acylation of compound 23 gave 24 as a single diastereomer with the desired stereochemistry but in low yield. NBS bromination of 24 followed by lactone formation gave 26 in low yield. Alternatively, allylic oxidation of 24 with SeO₂ followed by lactonization gave 26 also in low yield. Finally, a third approach employing a semipinacol-type rearrangement of epoxy-alcohol 33 gave aldehyde 34 with the desired stereochemistry. Treatment of compound 34 with HCl in MeOH effected spiro-lactal formation and provided (±)-peribysin E. The overall yield of our synthesis is 3.2% from 2-methylcyclohenen-1-one.