The total synthesis of the natural bicyclo[3.3.0]furanolactone polyketide, plakortone Q, was achieved in 24 steps from (R)-Roche ester. The main feature of this synthetic strategy is the stereoselective construction of a central tetrahydrofuran moiety with four consecutive stereoisomeric centers using the Upjohn dihydroxylation of oxiranyl-substituted alkenes and acid-mediated 5-endo-tet cyclization.
Keywords: bicyclo[3.3.0]furanolactone; plakortone Q; polyketide; stereoselective dihydroxylation; total synthesis.