Short and efficient syntheses of (-)-Ambrox(R) (12) from (-)-sclareol
(1) and (+)- cis-abienol (11) are described. In contrast to previously
described procedures, the transformation of 1 to 12, involving in the
key step, an oxidative degradation by catalytic osmium tetroxide, in
the presence of sodium periodate, has the advantage of using the more
suitable sodium borohydride, as the reducing agent. The isolation and
characterization of some reaction intermediates allowed us to confirm
the degradation mechanism.