Differential Use of Anhydropyranosides for Enantiopure Routes to Bis-γ-butyrolactones: A New Approach to the Frameworks of Antibiotic and Anticancer Agents Isoavenaciolide and Ethisolide

Regio- and chemoselective syntheses of enantiopure bis-furanoids are described. These compounds are chirons for several families of bioactive natural products, including isoavenaciolide and ethisolide. Reaction of a 3,4-epoxy pyran with beta-ketoester dianions delivers substituted pyranosides in high yield. Cyclization then yields fused furan-pyran intermediates. Oxidation, deprotection, and rearrangement lead to bis-furanoids that bear the essential framework and stereochemistry of ethisolide and isoavenaciolide.