Selective and stereospecific enzyme-catalysed reductions of cis-and trans-decalindiones to enantiomerically pure hydroxy-ketones; an efficient access to (+)-4-twistanone

Abstract

preparative-scale horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase-catalysed reductions of highly symmetrical cis-and trans-decalindiones are effected regio-and stereo-specifically on only one of the two carbonyl groups to give enantiomerically pure hydroxy-ketones of predictable configurations and of broad values as chiral synthons, as exemplified by the synthesis of (+)-(4R)-twistanone from cis-decalin-2,7-dione in 51% overall yield.