Stereochemical investigation and total synthesis of inuloidin, a biologically active sesquiterpenoid from Heterotheca inuloides

The stereochemistry of inuloidin (1), which was a sesquiterpenoid that was characterized as a plant growth inhibitory substance from Heterotheca inuloides, was investigated. The modified Mosher's method coupled with a total synthetic study using osmium oxidation and Burgess dehydration as key steps were performed to clarify the stereochemistry of 1, which was determined to be a 2S,4R isomer.