Total Synthesis of Neplanocin A

The first total synthesis of racemic neplanocin A (1) After submitting our paper we learned that Arita et al. [J. Am. Chem. Soc.105, 4049(1983)] synthesized the natural enantioner of Neplanocin A. from cyclopentadiene and acylnitroso‐3,5‐dinitrobenzoic acid is described. The synthesis is suitable for specific isotopic labelling of the hydroxymethyl group of neplanocin A.