Aerobic oxidation of 8,11,13-abietatrienes catalyzed by N-hydroxyphthalimide combined with 2,2′-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) and its application to synthesis of naturally occurring diterpenes

Methyl 8,11,13-abietatriene-18-oate (1b) and 7-oxo-8,11,13-abietatrienes 10 and 15 were converted into 15-hydroperoxy-7-oxo-8,11,13-abietatrienes 13 and 16 by aerobic oxidation catalyzed by N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) combined with 2,2′-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (V-70) at room temperature, and several abietane and podocarpane terpenes were synthesized from 13 and 16.