Synthesis of chiral bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-ones via an intramolecular alkylation reaction

Generation of the thermodynamic dienolate of 9-bromocarvone derivatives 5, 7 and 11 furnished the chiral bicycle[2.2.2] octenones 6, 8 and 9 and 12 and 13 containing a bridgehead methyl group via an intramolecular alkylation reaction. In an analogous manner intramolecular alkylation reaction of the bromo enones 15a-e, obtained from carvone 2 by 1,3-alkylative enone transposition (-->14) followed by a regiospecific bromoetherification reaction, furnished the bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-en-2-ones 16a-e and 17a-e.