The C-24 configurations of (22E)-24-ethyl-24-methylcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol (1) and 24-ethyl-24-methylcholest-5-en-3β-ol (2), isolated from the Colombian Caribbean sponge Topsentia ophiraphidites, were determined to be R and S, respectively, by comparing their NMR data with those of stereodefined (24R)- and (24S)-samples that were synthesized in routes involving the orthoester Claisen rearrangement of Δ23-22-allylic alcohols. This is the first synthetic study where the Claisen rearrangement is used to introduce a C-24 quaternary center in a stereospecific manner with acceptable yield. X-ray analysis of 1 confirmed these stereochemical assignments.
24-ethyl-24-methylcholesterol; 24-ethyl-24-methylcholesta-5,22-dien-3b-ol; Topsentia ophiraphidites; marine sterol; orthoester Claisen rearrangement
