Exo-selective Intramolecular (4+3) Cycloadditions to trans-Fused Perhydroazulenes: An Asymmetric Formal Synthesis of (−)-Pseudolaric acid B

We present an asymmetric formal total synthesis of pseudolaric acid B (PAB), based on the intramolecular (4+3) cycloaddition of a new class of epoxy enolsilane substrates. This substrate type has the epoxide geminally-substituted on the tether to the furan, which reacts to yield the trans-fused perhydroazulene core of PAB containing the quaternary stereocenter. The reaction is highly diastereoselective, as opposed to cycloadditions of previous substrate types that generate the perhydroazulene framework. The role of the geminal tether in controlling the transition state conformation and the exo-selectivity is revealed by density functional theory calculations. Using this intramolecular cycloaddition as the key reaction, together with several one-pot sequences, a key intermediate in Trost’s synthesis of PAB was accomplished, representing the shortest asymmetric synthesis of this anti-tumor natural product thus far.