Total synthesis of brevenal

The convergent total synthesis of brevenal, a non-toxic brevetoxin antagonist, has been achieved. The ABC ring segment and the E ring precursor were connected by the intramolecular allylation followed by ring-closing metathesis to furnish the pentacyclic ether compound. An alternative route to the key synthetic intermediate, a pentacyclic ether core, was also examined. The right- and left-hand side chains were introduced by Wittig and Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reactions, respectively, to furnish brevenal (1).