Synthesis of (±)-podorhizone via intermediate α-hydroxyalkylation of a β-benzyl γ-butyrolactone
Abstract
α-Hydroxyalkylation of β-(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl)-γ-butyrolactone (1) with 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde, using lithium hexamethyldisilylamide as a base, affords a 1 : 1 mixture of (±)-podorhizol (4) and (±)-epipodorhizol (5); Jones's oxidation of this mixture gives (±)-podorhizone (6) in 63% overall yield.