A practical enantioselective synthesis of massoialactone via hydrolytic kinetic resolution

An efficient enantioselective synthesis of (R)- and (S)-massoialactone has been achieved. The key steps are the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of a racemic epoxyheptane with (R,R)-(salen)–CoIIIOAc complex and ring-closing metathesis of homoallylic alcohol derived acrylate esters using Grubb’s catalyst. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]