Direct access to 6/5/7/5- and 6/7/5/5-fused tetracyclic triterpenoids via divergent transannular aldol reaction of lanosterol-derived diketone.

In an effort to access biologically relevant chemical space, a complex natural product derived nonsymmetrical diketone was prepared as a substrate for divergent transannular aldol reactions. The use of common aldol conditions resulted in predominant syn-addition via pathway a, while the use of alumina provided access to the anti-adduct. Screening of a range of Lewis acids of varying strength unexpectedly resulted in the formation of aldol products with 6/7/5/5-fused molecular skeleton via pathway b.