Iron tricarbonyl stabilized pentadienyl cation as initiator for cascade polycyclizations: a diastereoselective entry into octahydrophenanthrenes.

A new example is provided of completely diastereoselective polycyclization, affording the octahydrophenanthrene framework. Generation of an iron tricarbonyl stabilized pentadienyl carbocation is the triggering event of the cascade reaction. The carbocation is generated by anchimerically assisted regiospecific protonation of a double bond adjacent to the iron tricarbonyl diene moiety. Tetrafluoroboric acid ether complex appears to be the optimum reagent, affording good yields, even under catalytic conditions.