Synthetic studies on the DEF-rings of FR182877 and hexacyclinic acid

A synthesis of model DEF-rings of the polyketide anti tumor natural products FR182877 and hexacyclinic acid has been achieved. The key steps in the synthesis are an intramolecular Pd(0) catalyzed allylic substitution reaction, which was used to generate a 9-membered carbocycle, and a novel transannular iodocyclization reaction which furnished the DF-rings of both natural products.