Selective Oxidations in the Synthesis of Complex Natural ent-Kauranes and ent-Beyeranes

Syntheses of two natural products derived from the ent-kaurene kaurenoic acid are described for the first time using regio- and diastereoselective oxidations. Palladium- and manganese-mediated oxidations were used to accomplish the syntheses of two ent-beyerane metabolites. The use of the White–Gormisky–Zhao catalyst Mn­(CF3-PDP) enabled the first application of a nondirected metal-catalyzed oxidation in an unactivated C–H bond in a total synthesis.