Photoinduced functionalization of diterpenes: transformation of the C-20 methyl of atractyligenin into a carbomethoxymethyl or carbamoylmethyl group

Irradiation of the nor-diterpene atractyligenin 1a and of its methyl ester 1b at λ=254 nm in methanol or in methanol in the presence of nitrogen nucleophiles such as ammonia or methylamine gave, besides the decarboxylation product 2, the ester 3a or the amides 3b, 3c, respectively, providing the transformation of the C-20 angular methyl into a carbomethoxymethyl or carbamoylmethyl group. A photochemical pathway involves formation of C-19/C-20 bond in the excited state, followed by a collapse into a ketene intermediate which will capture the nucleophilic reagent.