Regio- and stereoselective nucleophilic addition reactions of Swaminathan ketone and its methylated analog using organometallic reagents

[Display omitted] Herein, we report the regio- and stereoselective nucleophilic addition reactions of Swaminathan ketone 2a and its methylated analog 2b, both of which contain a 6–7 fused carbocyclic enedione moiety. Nucleophilic additions to 2 using generic organometallic reagents, such as Grignard and organolithium reagents, preferentially occurs at the conjugated carbonyl group to afford a range of tert-alcohols with high stereoselectivity. The selectivity observed with 2 was notable when compared to that observed with Wieland–Miescher ketone 1a bearing a decalin framework. A variety of substituents, such as alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and aryl groups, can be introduced into 2 using this method. Exceptionally, the allylation reaction of 2 occurred at both the conjugated and non-conjugated carbonyl groups, but this regioselectivity problem was solved using organocopper reagents.