Diastereoselective conjugate addition of lithium methylcyanocuprate to the chiral isoprene units 2-(R)- and (S)-benzyloxy-2,5-dihydro-4-furancarboxaldehyde. Total synthesis of (-)- and (+)-botryodiplodin and (+)- and (-)-epibotryodiplodin.
Conjugate addition of lithium methylcyanocuprate to the titlealdehydes proceeded with high diastereoselectivity (d.e. 94%). Methyl lithium 1,2-addition, followed by Swern oxidation of the resultingalcohols, gave benzyl botryodiplodin and benzyl epi-botryodiplodin.Hydrogenolysis of the benzyl groups gave the enantiomeric pairs ofbotryodiplodin 10r and 10s and epi-botryodiplodin (9r and 9s).
