Claisen Rearrangement Based Methodology for the Spiroannulation of a Cyclopentane Ring. Formal Total Synthesis of (±)-Acorone and Isoacorones

A Claisen rearrangement based methodology for spiroannulation of a cyclopentane ring to cyclic precursors and its application in the formal total synthesis of acorones 1 is described. Thus, Claisen rearrangement of 2-cycloalkylideneethanols 12 with 2-methoxypropene and a catalytic amount of mercuric acetate generates 4,4-substituted hex-5-en-2-ones 13. Ozonolytic cleavage of the terminal olefin in the enones 13 and intramolecular aldol condensation of the resulting keto-aldehydes 14 furnishes the spiroannulated compounds 15.