Asymmetric synthesis of dihydroartemisinic acid through intramolecular Stetter reaction

A short and concise formal synthesis of enantiopure dihydroartemisinic acid from (R)-citronellal is described in this article. Intramolecular version of asymmetric Stetter reaction using Rovis aminoindane based NHC catalyst was explored to access the core substituted cyclohexanone framework which on functional group manipulation and late stage ring closing metathesis (RCM) reaction afforded an advanced intermediate for dihydroartemisinic acid.