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Rhopaloic acid A (+)-1 and the related compounds (–)-ent-1 and (±)-rac-1 have been stereoselectively synthesized. The synthetic strategy consists of successive homologation of (2E,6E)-farnesol 7 and cyclization to form a tetrahydropyran ring, together with final introduction of an α-methylene group on the carboxylic moiety. The cyclization is carried out by intramolecular hetero-Michael addition leading to 2,5-disubstituted tetrahydropyrans. The stereochemistry can be rationalized by invoking a model of a chair-like transition state. The asymmetric synthesis is achieved by way of the Evans’ asymmetric alkylation procedure using (S)- or (R)-4-benzyloxazolidin-2-one as the chiral auxiliary. In the event, the configuration of natural rhopaloic acid A (+)-1 could be assigned as 2R,5S by comparison of the specific rotations of synthetic compounds with that of the natural product.

The stereoselective synthesis of rac- and ent-rhopaloic acid A 1 has been accomplished, via successive homologation of (2E,6E)-farnesol 2 and cyclization to form a tetrahydropyran ring, together with final introduction of an α-methylene group; the asymmetric synthesis was achieved via an Evans’ asymmetric alkylation using (S)-4-benzyloxazolidin-2-one as a chiral auxiliary; the synthetic rhopaloic acid A, with a predicted absolute configuration of (2S,5R), had a specific rotation of opposite sign to that of the natural product, and therefore the configuration of natural rhopaloic acid A should be assigned as (2R,5S).

Rhopaloic acid A (+)-1 and the related compounds (–)-ent-1 and (±)-rac-1 have been stereoselectively synthesized. The synthetic strategy consists of successive homologation of (2E,6E)-farnesol 7 and cyclization to form a tetrahydropyran ring, together with final introduction of an α-methylene group on the carboxylic moiety. The cyclization is carried out by intramolecular hetero-Michael addition leading to 2,5-disubstituted tetrahydropyrans. The stereochemistry can be rationalized by invoking a model of a chair-like transition state. The asymmetric synthesis is achieved by way of the Evans’ asymmetric alkylation procedure using (S)- or (R)-4-benzyloxazolidin-2-one as the chiral auxiliary. In the event, the configuration of natural rhopaloic acid A (+)-1 could be assigned as 2R,5S by comparison of the specific rotations of synthetic compounds with that of the natural product.

Ring-expansion of methyl 2-bromomethyl-5-oxiranylpent-2-enoate (7) with various acids was studied; treatment with Lewis acids (TiBr4, MgBr2 and ZnBr2) afforded the tetrahydrofuran derivative 4-Br as a major product, while reaction with silver salt (AgNO3/KPF6), which is known to have a high halide affinity, gave preferentially the tetrahydropyran 3-ONO2 derivatives as the major products.

Ring-expansion of methyl 2-bromomethyl-5-oxiranylpent-2-enoate (7) with various acids was studied; treatment with Lewis acids (TiBr4, MgBr2 and ZnBr2) afforded the tetrahydrofuran derivative 4-Br as a major product, while reaction with silver salt (AgNO3/KPF6), which is known to have a high halide affinity, gave preferentially the tetrahydropyran 3-ONO2 derivatives as the major products.

In order to construct the tetrahydropyran ring of rhopaloic acid A and hippospongic acid A, the ring-expansion of methyl 2-bromomethyl-6,7-epoxyhept-2-enoate with various acids was studied; treatment of the bromo oxirane with Lewis acids (TiBr 4 , MgBr 2 and ZnBr 2 ) afforded a tetrahydrofuran derivative as the major product, while reaction of the oxirane with silver salt (AgNO 3 /KPF 6 ) gave a tetrahydropyran derivative as the major product.

The stereoselective synthesis of rac- and ent-rhopaloic acid A 1 has been accomplished, via successive homologation of (2E,6E)-farnesol 2 and cyclization to form a tetrahydropyran ring, together with final introduction of an α-methylene group; the asymmetric synthesis was achieved via an Evans’ asymmetric alkylation using (S)-4-benzyloxazolidin-2-one as a chiral auxiliary; the synthetic rhopaloic acid A, with a predicted absolute configuration of (2S,5R), had a specific rotation of opposite sign to that of the natural product, and therefore the configuration of natural rhopaloic acid A should be assigned as (2R,5S).