Synthetic transformations of higher terpenoids: XIV. Synthesis of pyrrololabdanoids from lambertianic acid

Treatment of lambertianic acid methyl ester with lead tetraacetate gave terpenoid 2,5-diacetoxydihydrofuran which reacted with primary amines to yield 3-terpenyl-substituted pyrrol-2(5H)-ones; the reaction with hydrazine led to the corresponding pyridazine derivative. The obtained furanoterpenoids underwent oxidative methoxylation by the action of N-chlorobenzenesulfonamide or N-bromosuccinimide in methanol. 2,5-Dimethoxydihydrofurans thus formed were smoothly converted into 3-substituted furan-2(5H)-one in acid medium. Hydrogenation of 2,5-dimethoxydihydrofurans, followed by treatment with amines, gave 1,3-disubstituted pyrroles.