Studies directed toward the total synthesis of pinnatoxin A: synthesis of the 6,5,6-dispiroketal (BCD ring) system by double hemiketal formation/hetero-Michael addition strategy

An efficient, highly stereoselective synthesis of the C10–C26 portion of pinnatoxin A has been achieved, wherein the key step is a highly stereoselective construction of the 6,5,6-dispiroketal (BCD ring) system by an intramolecular hetero-Michael addition of a hemiketal alkoxide reversibly formed under the influence of lithium methoxide.