Synlett 2004(8): 1437-1439  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-825624
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Synthesis of Membranacin

Geoffrey D. Heada, William G. Whittinghamb, Richard C. D. Brown*a
a School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton S017 1BJ, UK
Fax: +44(23)80596805; e-Mail: rcb1@soton.ac.uk;
b Syngenta, Jealott’s Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell RG42 6EY, UK
Further Information

Publication History

Received 17 March 2004
Publication Date:
08 June 2004 (online)

Abstract

The synthesis of the Annonaceous acetogenin membranacin (2) has been achieved, using transition metal-oxo and ­transition metal-peroxy species in the key steps.

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A single diastereoisomer 3 was isolated from the reaction mixture, although oxidative cyclisation of similar substrates has been found to proceed with a diastereoselectivity of approximately 6:1.