Studies towards the Synthesis of (+)‐Dictyoxetane

The dolabellane‐type diterpene dictyoxetane represents a significant challenge to synthetic organic chemistry. Methodology directed towards the total synthesis of naturally occurring (+)‐dictyoxetane is reported. Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of the trans‐hydrindane ring system is achieved through chemoselective deoxygenation of the Hajos‐Parrish ketone. An alternative to the Garst‐Spencer furan annulation is developed for the synthesis of a 2,5‐dimethyl, tetrasubstituted furan, employing a tandem 5‐exo‐dig alcohol to alkyne cyclisation/aromatisation reaction as a key step. The (4+3) cycloaddition reaction of an oxyallyl cation with a tetrasubstituted furan is established on a cyclohexanone‐derived model system, and a range of related (4+3) cycloadditions investigated on a homochiral, trans‐hydrindane‐fused furan, where regio‐ and diastereoselectivity is required for the natural product synthesis. In an alternative (4+2) Diels‐Alder approach, a C(2)‐symmetric vinyl sulfoxide‐based chiral ketene equivalent is used to prepare oxanorbornenes with the same oxygen bridge stereochemistry found in the 2,7‐dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0(3,8)]nonane ring system of the natural product.