Methyl jasmonates are asymmetric oxylipins involved in defensive, developmental and regulative mechanisms of terrestrial and marine photosynthetic organisms in response to biotic and abiotic challenges. Among the four stereoisomers, only methyl epi-jasmonate and ent-epi-jasmonate show good organoleptic properties but also phytohormonal activity allowing the elicitation of bioactive secondary metabolites. Because they specifically target a mitochondrial hexokinase regulating the metabolism of cancer cells, methyl jasmonates have become excellent candidates as new therapeutic agents. With a constant attention on new therapeutic agents derived from the natural environment, our laboratory has focused on the enantioselective synthesis of methyl epi-jasmonate and ent-epi-jasmonate using monoprotected homochiral diols derived from cyclooct-1,5-diene.In order to obtain these chiral bicyclic diols, an innovative strategy has involved the study of the chemo-stereoselective electrocyclization of the cyclooct-1,5-diene-derived meso-epoxide assisted by chiral metallated ligands known as Jacobsen’s catalysts. Taking advantage of our knowledge of enzymatic desymmetrization, a second strategy opting for the enantioselective resolution of monocyclic homochiral diols or C2-symmetric bicyclic diols led access to chiral silanyloxyinden-5-ones, key precursors to chiral methyl cis-jasmonates. Meanwhile, the racemic synthesis of (±)--jasmolactone and methyl (±)-epi-jasmonate was validated in 15 steps starting from cyclooct-1,5-diene.
