Total synthesis of 8-deshydroxyajudazol B

The total synthesis of a stereoisomer of 8-deshydroxyajudazol B (4), the putative biosynthetic intermediate of the ajudazols A (1) and B (2), is described. The key steps in the synthesis included an intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reaction to secure the isochromanone fragment, a novel selective acylation/O,N-shift to give a hydroxyamide which was cyclized to the oxazole and a high yielding Sonogashira coupling to form the C18-C19 bond. Partial alkyne reduction then afforded the target 4.