Expeditious synthesis of nitrogenated spongianes: 4-methyldecarboxyspongolactams

Herein, the synthesis of 4-methyldecarboxyhaumanamide (9) and 4-methyldecarboxyspongolactams A (11) and C (13) is presented. (−)-Sclareol is the starting material and the chloroderivative 7 is the common intermediate. Moreover, this synthesis represents a new strategy for the preparation of pyrrolinones.

4-Methyldecarboxyhaumanamide and 4-Methyldecarboxyspongolactams A and C have been synthesized from (−)-sclareol.