Application of a domino intramolecular enyne metathesis/cross metathesis reaction to the total synthesis of (+)-8-epi-xanthatin

reaction: see text] The first total synthesis of the novel sesquiterpene lactone (+)-8-epi-xanthatin (1) has been achieved starting from the commercially available ester 8. The synthesis features an asymmetric aldol reaction and palladium-catalyzed carbonylation/lactonization sequence leading to 4 and a domino ring-closing enyne metathesis/cross metathesis reaction to afford 1.