Towards EPC-syntheses of the structural class of cochleamycins and macquarimicins. Part 2: EPC-synthesis of the hydrindene subunit of the macquarimicins

The EPC-synthesis of the cis-hydrindene subunit of the macquarimicins, antibiotics with antitumour and anti-inflammatory activity, has been achieved. Desymmetrization of cis-1,4-cyclopent-2-enediol was succeeded by Diels–Alder reaction and functional group transformations to a tricyclic ketone. Regio- and stereoselective methylation via Claisen condensation and hydrogenation was followed by nucleophilic, intramolecular addition, reduction and acidic fragmentation. Further functional group transformations led to the target molecule.