Synthesis of (-)-erythrodiene and (+)-7-epispirojatamol via intramolecular Pd-catalyzed allylzincation

Two spirobicyclic sesquiterpenoids, (-)-erythrodiene (1) and (+)-7-epispirojatamol (30),were synthesized in enantiomerically pure form via an intramolecular allylzincation process. The allylzinc species were formed in the presence of Et,Zn via transmetallation of a catalytically generated allylpalladium intermediate. Several Pd catalysts were tested for this transformation, and [Pd(OAc)(2)/Bu3P(1 equiv.) was found to be, by far, the most effective. Whereas the preparation of 1 involved allylzincation of a tethered terminal olefin. 30 was formed via a novel intramolecular allylzincation of a methyl ketone. Both reactions showed the same stereochemical preference. yielding the spirobicyclic products in 95:5 and 4:1 diastereoisomer ratios, respectively.