Total synthesis of the proposed structure for pyragonicin

structure: see text] The total synthesis of acetogenin 1 reported for pyragonicin and its 10-epimer 32 is described. The common THP ring system was stereoselectively constructed through a SmI(2)-induced reductive cyclization of beta-alkoxy acrylate 5 followed by Mitsunobu inversion, and each chiral center at C-10 was created by Brown's asymmetric allylation. Compound 1 had spectroscopic data consistent with that of natural pyragonicin, but a different optical rotation.