Enantioselective double Michael addition/cyclization with an oxygen-centered nucleophile as the first step in a concise synthesis of natural (+)-asteriscanolide

The total synthesis of (+)-asteriscanolide (1) starting from 2-bromo-4,4-dimethylcyclopentenone has been accomplished. The synthetic route features two key steps. The first step is an unprecedented Michael-Michael reaction sequence that involves a heteronucleophile and proceeds with complete asymmetric induction. The two five-membered rings of the target molecule are thereby generated enantioselectively in a single laboratory step. The second step is based on utilization of ring-closing metathesis to provide an eight-membered ring in which a conjugated 1,3-diene unit resides. Other features of the synthetic stratagem involve the utilization of singlet oxygen in a regiocontrolled ene reaction, the fully stereocontrolled hydrogenation of a dienone, and a chemoselective ruthenium tetraoxide oxidation.