EDWARD PIERS, M. BERT GERAGHTY, R. DEAN SMILLIE, and MARCEL SOUCY. Can. J. Chem. 53,2849 (1975).Stereoselective total syntheses of the tricyclic sesquiterpenoids (-)-copacamphene (1) and (+)-sativene (3) and of the related tetracyclic compounds (-)-cyclocopacamphene (2) and (+)-cyclosativene (4) are described. An efficient four-step synthetic sequence was employed to convert the bicyclic dione 5 into the olefinic ketone 8. The latter compound was converted in four steps into the olefinic alcohol 23. Eliminative cyclization of the corresponding tosylate 25 gave (-)-copacamphene (1) in high yield. In similar fashion, (+)-sativene (3) was obtained by cyclization of the olefinic tosylate 42, which in turn was derived via a four-step synthetic sequence from the olefinic ketone 9. Oxidation of the olefinic alcohol 23 afforded the aldehyde 34. Conversion of the latter compound into the p-tosylhydrazone 35, followed by pyrolysis of the corresponding lithium salt 36, gave the pyrazoline 37. Photolysis of 37 afforded, in high yield, (-)-cyclocopacamphene (2). Similarly, (+)-cyclosativene (4) On decrit des syntheses totales et stCreos6lectives des sesquiterpenoides tricycliques (-) copacamphene (1)et (+) sativene (3)et des composCs t6tracycliques (-) cyclocopacamphene (2) et (+) cyclosativtne (4) qui leur sont relies. On a utilise une sequence de synthtse efficace impliquant 4 Btapes pour transformer la dione 5 en cetone non-saturee 8. On a converti ce dernier compose en alcool olefinique 23 en quatre etapes. L'elimination cyclisante du tosylate correspondant 25 donne le (-) copacamphtne (1) avec un bon rendement. D e la mCme maniere, on obtient le (+) sativene (3) par cyclisation du tosylate non-sature 42, qui derive de la cetone non-saturk 9 par I'intermediaire d'une sequence de synthese en 4 etapes. L'oxydation de I'alcool insature 23 fournit l'aldehyde 34 qui est transforme en p-tosylhydrazone 35. La pyrolyse du sel de lithium de cette derniere (36) donne la pyrazoline 37 qui par photolyse conduit, avec un bon rendement, au (-) cyclocopacamphtne (2). On obtient le (+) cyclosativene (4) de la mCme maniere a partir de I'alcool 41 par I'intermediaire de la pyrazoline 46.