swrpnary Starting from alcohol 3, a stereospecific synthesis of carboxylic acid 1 is described. This acid 1 is a key lntermedlate in the total synthesis of aJugarins and its conversion into t 4-epi aJugarin is reported. A number of clerodane dlterpenes, as represented by aJugann 11a2, (I) and clerodin3, possess insect antifeedant activity. During the last few years several papers on synthetic approaches towards these compounds4a5Js and of several types of model compounds7a8 have appeared. Recently we published the synthesis of an interesting model compound for aJugarin Ig. The communication of Kende and Roth6 on the total synthesis of aJugarin IV prompts us to report on our synthesis of 4-epl aJugann I and on our efforts towards the total synthesis of aJugann I, following the scheme outlined below. The alcohol z* was chosen as the starting material lo. Oxidation with Jones' reagent afforded the carboxylic acid in high yield, which was converted into the methyl ester 4 on treatment with diazomethane Allylic oxidation (chromic acid in acetic acid, 60% yield) of 4 gave the enone 5, which was hydrogenated in quantitative yield (Pd/C) to the ketone 6 Reduction of this compound with lithium tri-t-butoxy aluminium hydride gave a mixture of the equatorial and axial alcohols