Oxidative transformations of guaia-1(10)-en-12,8-olides into xanthanolides.

Dihydropsuedoivalin (1) was isolated from Stevia tomentosa, which, when treated with base, afforded epidihydropseudoivalin (2). The stereochemistry of 1 and 2 was established by crystallographic X-ray studies of the two derivatives of epidihydropseudoivalin. Treatment of 1 and 2 with Jones's reagent afforded the xanthanolides 3 and 4, respectively.