Recent Advances in Sustainable Total Synthesis and Chiral Pool Strategies with Emphasis on (−)‐Sclareol in Natural Products Synthesis

Abstract

Starting materials for sustainable total synthesis often come from the chiral pool: carbohydrates, cyclitols, amino acids, and terpenes. In the terpene family, (−)‐sclareol has served as a sustainable, readily available, and versatile chiral building block for the synthesis of numerous natural products. (−)‐Sclareol possesses a unique structure that has consequently promoted its integration as a core framework within various structurally complex and biologically active substances, including sesquiterpenoids, diterpenoids, and sesterterpenoids. (−)‐Sclareol has facilitated access to diverse synthetic key intermediates, promoting the sustainable synthesis of several natural products. Herein, a review is presented covering the recent trends in sustainable total syntheses and the application of chiral pool approaches with emphasis on the preparation of natural products through diverse routes employing (−)‐sclareol as chiral educt. Innovative catalytic and synthetic protocols using (−)‐sclareol are also analyzed and discussed.