Synthetic approach to analogues of the original structure of sclerophytin A

A route to analogues of the original structure of sclerophytin A is described. The beta-anomer of dideoxyribosyl nitriles 10a,b (prepared from glutamic acid) was converted into the methyl ketone 11. Addition of a silylated acetylide to 11 in diethyl ether/trimethylamine gave mainly 22a. Alkylation with methallyl halide and ozonolysis gave the ketone 24, which was then converted by hydrogenation and a second ozonolysis into the keto aldehyde 26. A two-step aldol process afforded the desired 3-pyrone 27 in good overall yield. However, several methods for the conversion of this enone 27 into the desired sclerophytin analogue 2 failed.