Exploiting the Anders–Gaßner variant on the Wittig reaction: new methodology for the synthesis of 3,3-dimethylacroyl enol esters

A one pot synthesis of the 3,3-dimethylacroyl enol ester function found in the vibsane type diterpenes has been developed based on the Anders–Gaßner variant of the Wittig reaction (AGW reaction). This method uses easily accessible acyloxyalkylidene phosphoranes and a variety of aldehydes.