(±) -3-Methoxy-1α, 4aβ, 8aβ-trimethyl-1, 4, 4a, 6, 7, 8, 8a, 9, 10, 10a α-decahydrophenanthrene-4, 8-dione, a tricyclic A-ring analog of quassin, was synthesized from a known tricyclic ketone through seven reaction steps, including phenylselenation in a neutral medium and the Wharton reaction.
