An attractive intermediate in the total synthesis of the eleutherobin core has been obtained. Both syn and anti aldol diastereoisomers were synthesized by two different diastereoselective reaction sequences from 5-methyl-4-(pyrrolydin-1′-yl)-5H-furan-2-one. Each diastereoisomer was esterified and subjected to an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction, which led to an intermediate that possesses rings A and C of the eleutherobin skeleton.
aldol reactions - Diels-Alder reactions - antitumor agents - eleuthesides - diastereoselectivity