Total synthesis and anti-leishmanial activity of R-(−)-argentilactone

Starting from the commercially available d-glucal (2), the naturally occurring α,β-unsaturated δ-lactone argentilactone (1a) has been synthesized. The important step is the configuration inversion at C-6 by the Mitsunobu reaction following the sugar–non-sugar–sugar strategy. The synthetic argentilactone has been tested against Leishmania mexicana for bioactivity.