Degradation of the Side Chain of (−)‐Sclareol: A Very Short Synthesis of nor‐Ambreinolide and Ambrox

Abstract The synthesis of nor‐Ambreinolide (8) from (‐)‐sclareol (1) was carried out by treatment with KMnO4‐Ac2O and further alkaline hydrolysis. 8 was directly transformed into (‐)‐ambrox (11) by reduction with metal borohydride in the presence of Lewis acids.