Enantioselective synthesis of the C10-C20 fragment of fusicoccin A

A synthesis of the fully protected C-ring fragment of the tricyclic diterpene fusicoccin A is reported. The desired cyclopentenyl halides 5a,b are obtained in a total of nine steps. Key transformations of the synthesis sequence are a nonconventional Cr-catalyzed allylic oxidation of a protected intermediate cylcopentenone, a diastereoselective addition of a propenyl Grignard/CeCl(3) reagent to the unmasked cyclopentenone, and an asymmetric hydroboration of the isopropenyl substituent. The protected and suitably functionalized C-ring fragment paves the way to explore further the total synthesis of fusicoccin A.