Stereocontrolled total synthesis of (±)-3β-hydroxy-9β-pimara-7,15-diene, a putative biosynthetic intermediate of momilactones

The total synthesis of (±)-3β-hydroxy-9β-pimara-7,15-diene (1), a putative biosynthetic intermediate of the momilactones, was accomplished stereoselectively. Our methodology for the synthesis of 1 featured the stereoselective construction of the C-13 quaternary carbon center via the aldol-Tishchenko reaction. 3β-Hydroxy-9β-pimara-7,15-diene (1) was identified by full-scan GC-MS analysis as an endogenous compound in elicited rice cells.