Enantiospecific total synthesis of lairdinol A

The synthesis of lairdinol A, a component of the host-selective phytotoxin depsilairdin, was achieved in 12 steps (18% overall yield) without the use of protecting groups starting with the Diels-Alder reaction of (R)-carvone with 3-trimethylsilyloxy-1,3-pentadiene. The key step established the trans ring fusion by preferential epoxidation of a trans-fused enone in an equilibrating mixture of the cis-fused and trans-fused diastereomers (i.e., equivalent to a dynamic kinetic resolution of these isomers). The synthesis confirms the absolute configurations of lairdinol A and its enantiomer, cyperusol C.