Total synthesis of the marine sesquiterpene hydroquinones zonarol and isozonarol and the sesquiterpene quinones zonarone and isozonarone

The total synthesis of the naturally occurring sesquiterpene hydroquinones zonarol and isozonarol and the sesquiterpene quinones zonarone and isozonar one was achieved starting from beta-ionone, which was transformed via (+)-a lbicanic acid to (+)-albicanal and (-)-drim-7-en-11-al. Coupling of the ald ehydes with lithiated hydroquinone ethers and further modification of the c oupling products led to the target molecules. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd . All rights reserved.