Formal Total Synthesis of (+-)-Herbertene-1,13-diol and (+-)-(alpha)Herbertenol via Ireland Ester Claisen Rearrangement and RCM Reaction Sequence

A combination of Ireland ester Claisen rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reactions has been employed for efficient formal total syntheses of herbertene-1,13-diol and (alpha)-herbertenol, sesquiterpenes containing two vicinal quaternary carbon atoms on a cyclopentane ring.