NMR spectroscopic identification of (1 S , 4 R , 6 R )‐ and (1 S , 4 R , 6 S )‐1,3,3‐trimethyl‐2‐oxo‐6‐(2‐oxopropyl)bicyclo[2.2.2]octane, key intermediates towards the total synthesis of (+)‐norpatchoulenol

High‐field NMR studies of (1 S , 4 R , 6 R )‐ and (1 S , 4 R , 6 S )‐1,3,3‐trimethyl‐2‐oxo‐6‐(2‐oxopropyl)bicyclo[2.2.2]octane were carried out by one‐ and two‐dimensional methods. The stereochemical aspects of these molecules were studied through the application of the nuclear Overhauser effect and stereospecific coupling constants. Unambiguous 1 H and 13 C chemical shift assignments have been made on the basis of two‐dimensional homonuclear ( 1 H– 1 H) and heteronuclear ( 1 H– 13 C) correlation spectroscopy, APT, INAPT and broad‐band proton decoupling experiments.