A general synthetic route of dihydroagarofuran sesquiterpenoid from α-(−)-santonin

A general and efficient approach for synthesis of dihydroagarofuran sesquiterpenoid, the core structure of the polyol esters extensively present in the Celastraceae plants, has been developed by a series of transformations, which mainly include three creative and synthetically valuable conversions: the strategic double-bond shifting of 3, the versatile rearrangement of epoxide 5 generating two key functions, the C5OH and 7,11-Double-bond, and the stereoselective cyclization/reduction of 8 constructing the tetrahydrofuran ring of 11. Thus the sesquiterpenoid 3α,6α,12-trihydroxy-dihydoagarofuran 1 was synthesized.