First synthesis and absolute configuration of (−)-pyriculariol, a phytotoxin isolated from rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe grisea. Use of microwave irradiation to control Stille coupling reaction products

First total synthesis of (−)-pyriculariol, a phytotoxin isolated from rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe grisea, was achieved to determine the absolute configuration of the natural product to be 5′R,6′S. The key step was Stille coupling reaction using microwave irradiation from −78 °C to control the reaction.