A versatile synthetic route to the anti-implantation agent, yuehchukene, and its analogues

A detailed study directed toward the development of a versatile synthetic route to the interesting dimeric natural product yuehchukene ( 1 ) and its epimer, 6a-epi-yuehchukene ( 2 ), has been completed. Due to the anti-implantation activity associated with 1 , it was important to provide a synthetic strategy not only to 1 , but to a family of yuehchukene analogues that, hopefully, would reveal superior chemical stability and (or) elevated biological activity. The experiments described herein and which utilize the readily available and inexpensive isophorone ( 6 ) satisfy these requirements. Key words: yuehchukene synthesis, yuehchukene analogues, anti-implantation activity.