Two-directional synthesis of the non-adjacent bis(tetrahydrofuran) core of cis-sylvaticin

Synthesis of the C₂-symmetric, non-adjacent bis(tetrahydrofuran) core of cis-sylvaticin in seven steps and 24% overall yield from (2R,3S)-1,2-epoxy-4-penten-3-ol is reported. A strategy involving assembly of the central 1,4-diol unit by silicon-tethered ring-closing metathesis and subsequent two-directional functionalization, including establishment of the cis/threo stereochemical relationships of the tetrahydrofuran rings by Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation/S_N2 cyclization, is employed.