Synthesis of the tricyclic dihydrofuran moiety of azadirachtin: efficient transformation of the Claisen rearrangement intermediate into a functionalized tricyclic dihydrofuran core

Azadirachtin is a C-seco limonoid, derived from the neem tree. Previously, we reported the synthesis of the right and left segments of azadirachtin, in addition to the coupling reaction of the modeled ester utilizing Claisen rearrangement. Herein we report the transformation of the modeled rearrangement product into a tricyclic dihydrofuran, which would be expected to have bioactivity against insects.