Catalytic and asymmetric vinylogous mukaiyama reactions on aliphatic ketones: formal asymmetric synthesis of taurospongin a

Catalytic asymmetric vinylogous Mukaiyama reactions on ketones, leading to the formation of alpha,beta-unsaturated lactones with tertiary alcohols, have been described (11 examples, up to 93% ee). This methodology has been applied in a formal enantioselective synthesis of taurospongin A (12 steps, 6% overall yield).