Laurenanes: fenestranes with a twist.
Four isomeric alcohols derived from the diterpene lauren-1-ene (1) have been examined by NMR methods (nuclear Overhauser enhancements, coupling constants, and variable-temperature studies) and by molecular mechanics using the MM3 force field to investigate a conformational twisting of the [5.5.5.7]fenestrane ring system. Results have been correlated with a concurrent study of remote functionalization reactions induced by iodobenzene diacetate/iodine under ultrasonic irradiation. Three of the laurenan-2-ols, 6, 7, and 8, lead to the same tetrahydrofuran derivative, 2beta,14beta-epoxylaurenane (9), and evidence for beta-cleavage of the alkoxy radical intermediate is obtained through the isolation of a ring-cleavage product 11 with a rearranged carbon skeleton. The products from the remaining alcohol 3 demonstrate solution dynamics involving the conformational twisting of the laurenane skeleton.
Weavers
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RT
Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. rweavers@alkali.otago.ac.nz