Synthesis of decalin type chiral synthons based on enzymatic functionalisation and their application to the synthesis of (−)-ambrox and (+)-zonarol

Stereoselective syntheses of (−)-ambrox 2 and (+)-zonarol 3 were achieved based on the enzymatic syntheses of (8a S )- and (8a R )-decalin-type 1,3-diols 1 , respectively. Non-racemic intermediates such as (8a S )- 1 and (8a R )- 1 were obtained based on the enantioselective hydrolyses of the phenolic acetal derivative (±)- 7 by acylase I.