Stereospecific synthesis of 4,11-epoxy-cis-eudesmane, a tricyclic sesquiterpene defence secretion from the termite Amitermes evuncifer

Abstract

The title compound has been synthesised by an unambiguous route from (–)-carvone involving an intramolecular oxymercuration procedure; the synthetic and naturally occuring materials from A. evuncifer have identical [α]D vlues.