Thiazoles in Organic Synthesis. Novel Syntheses of Menthanes and Eremophilanes.

Abstract Acetylcnic thiazoles of proper design have been shown to undergo an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction leading to fused-ring thiophene derivatives. When appropriately substituted, these latter materials can be readily converted to terpenes of the menthane and eremophilane class by Raney-nickel desulfurization