The formation of a 3 hydroxycyclopentanone by simple addition of diaromethane to E-isolinaridial

The reaction of diazomethane with E-isolinaridial (2), an unsaturated 1,4-d ialdehyde with the neo-clerodane skeleton, has led to the isolation of an e xpected methylketone (3) along with a 3-hydroxy-cyclopentanone derivative ( 4). This result could constitute a new approach for the synthesis of hemi-p rostaglandin analogues.