Total Synthesis of (+)-13-Deoxytedanolide

A total synthesis of 13-deoxytedanolide is described. The synthesis features a highly stereoselective fragment assembly aldol reaction of methyl ketone 4 and aldehyde 5 to establish the complete carbon skeleton of the natural product in the form of aldol 15 . The facile formation of the remarkably unreactive hemiketal 16 thwarted attempts to elaborate 15 to tedanolide. However, deoxygenation of the C(13)-hydroxyl of 16 provided the 13-deoxy hemiketal 17 that was smoothly elaborated to 13-deoxytedanolide.