Birch reduction and its application in the total synthesis of natural products

Abstract

The unique availability of substituted cyclohexa-1,4- and 1,3-dienes, notably enol ethers, from Birch reduction of anisoles, permits many novel synthetic reactions of general utility. The total synthesis of several natural products derived from polyketides have been accomplished using a Diels-Alder and Alder-Rickert process. The strategies of the synthesis are discussed.