Synthetic studies directed toward the pseurotins. Part II. Synthesis of related highly functionalized furan-3(2H)-ones

The synthesis of 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-4-methyl-5-phenylfuran-3(2H)-one ( 9 ), 5-[(1S,2S,Z)-1,2-(ethylidenedioxy)hex-3-enyl]-2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-4-methylfuran-3(2H)-one ( 24 ), and 5-[(1S,2S,Z)-1,2-(ethylidenedioxy)hex-3-enyl]-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-methylfuran-3(2H)-one ( 28 ), which represent more advanced, suitably functionalized intermediates for the synthesis of pseurotin A ( 1 ), a secondary metabolite of Pseudeurotium ovalis STOLK , is described.