Diastereoselective total synthesis of 8-epigrosheimin

The first diastereoselective total synthesis of 8-epigrosheimin was accomplished relying entirely on substrate-controlled methods. 8-Epigrosheimin, isolated as an amoebicidal and antibiotic compound from Crepis virens, is a multi-chiral-centered guaianolide with a cis-hydroazulene and a trans-annulated γ-butyrolactone ring. Our approach featured that the γ-butyrolactone unit was formed firstly before the construction of the cycloheptane ring system. The key steps of the synthesis involved (1) a stereoselective Mukaiyama aldol addition; (2) an oxidative γ-lactonization; and (3) an intramolecular aldehyde-ene cyclization.