First total synthesis of the E type I phytoprostanes

The first total synthesis of two E type I phytoprostanes from furan, azelaic acid monomethyl ester and rac-1,2-epoxybutane is described. The key features of our synthetic strategy encompass an enzymatic kinetic resolution of a hydroxycyclopentenone, a Co-salen hydrolytic kinetic resolution of a terminal epoxide and a tandem conjugate addition/diastereoselective protonation sequence to construct the protected phytoprostanes. Mild cleavage of the silyl protective groups followed by enzymatic ester hydrolysis afforded the free E-type phytoprostanes.