Catalytic Asymmetric Formal Total Synthesis of (-)-Triptophenolide and (+)-Triptolide.

Catalytic asymmetric formal synthesis of (-)-Triptophenolide and (+)-Triptolide have been achieved. Key reaction involves Palladium catalyzed asymmetric conjugate addition of aryl boronic acid to 3-methyl cyclohexe-1-none to form quaternary carbon. Claisen rearrangement and subsequent aldol reaction furnished trans-decaline key intermediate, which assured a formal total synthesis of (-)-Triptophenolide and (+)-Triptolide.