Simple synthesis of hexahydrocannabinoids using phenylboric acid catalyst
Abstract
Common activated phenols, such as sesamol, undergo a one-pot annulation to hexahydrocannabinoids on being heated with citronellal, phenylboric acid and an excess of acetic acid. Benzodioxaborines 2 are shown to be intermediates and are proposed to undergo conversion into quinonemethides under the acid conditions employed. Generally the more stable equatorial-trans-stereoisomer is formed in better than 95% purity.