Synthesis of Terpenoids. III. Total Syntheses of α-Bisabololone and α-Trans-Atlantone

Recently, anions of “protected” cyanohydrins have been introduced as useful acyl carbanions equivalents in organic synthesis2. Continuing with our interest in the use of these reagents for natural product syntheses3, we wish to report a short total synthesis of the sesquiterpene α-bisabololone 1 4,5, whose salient feature is a novel application of “protected” cyanohydrins to the synthesis of β-hydroxy ketones.