Syntheses of optically pure conduramines via the strategy of hetero Diels-Alder reaction of masked o-benzoquinones with homochiral nitroso dienophiles.

Highly stereoselective hetero Diels-Alder reactions of masked o-benzoquinones (MOBs) with homochiral nitroso dienophiles are described along with their application in the syntheses of (+)-ent-conduramine F-1, (+)-conduramine E-1, (-)-conduramine A-1, (+)-conduramine A-1 tetraacetate, and (-)-ent-conduramine A-1 tetraacetate.

1,3-methoxy rearrangement of masked o-benzoquinones: a novel synthesis of p-quinol ethers.

p-Quinol ethers are valuable synthons in synthetic organic chemistry. MOBs 1a-1i can be converted to p-quinol ethers 2a-2i in a highly efficient manner via 1,3-methoxy migration catalyzed by Lewis acids. The migration was found to be reversible and dependent on the electronic effect of substituent R3 of MOBs.