Total synthesis of (+)-blennolide C and (+)-gonytolide C via spirochromanone

We report the asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-blennolide C and (+)-gonytolide C isolated from endophytic fungi. The synthesis involved construction of a spirochromanone with a chiral quaternary carbon by the aldol reaction of o-hydroxyacetophenones and optically active α-oxygenated cyclohexenone, followed by cyclization under acidic conditions. Oxidative cleavage of the alkene moiety of the spirochromanone furnished the chromanone diester. Through treating the diester with a Lewis acid, the first total synthesis of (+)-blennolide C was achieved by deprotecting the oxygen functionality of the diester and simultaneous Dieckmann condensation. Total synthesis of (+)-gonytolide C was also achieved by lactone formation from the deprotected diester.