Molecular rearrangements of (-)-modhephene and (-)-isocomene to a (-)-triquinane

The preparation and further rearrangement of (-)-modhephene (1) to a (-)-triquinane 5 has been assessed through acid catalysis. The rearrangement involved protonation, 1,2 sigma-bond and methyl shifts, and deprotonation. Monitored experiments by H-1 NMR spectroscopy suggested the intermediate (-)-isocomene ( 3), which was further evidenced when a sample of natural (-)-3 undergoes acid-catalyzed conversion to the (-)-triquinane 5. In addition, deuterated (-)-modhephene (1-d) labeled stereospecifically at the 14 beta geminal methyl group at C4 was synthesized, through the corresponding chiral deuterated primary alcohol, in 5 steps, starting from natural (-)-14-hydroxymodhephene (8), and rearranged under acid catalysis to elucidate the stereochemical factors that control the methyl shift at this position. The final deuterium-labeled (-)-triquinane, 5-d, obtained from [14-H-2(1)]-1-d was established to have deuterium in the methyl group at C5 by C-13 NMR spectroscopy. This stereoselective methyl migration is in accordance with the molecular orbital demand formulated by the quantum chemical calculations performed in the present study.