The first total synthesis of goniothalesdiol

The first total synthesis of goniothalesdiol, a dihydroxylated tetrahydrofuran isolated from Goniothalamus borneensis (Annonaceae), and its 7-epimer is described starting with d-mannitol. The key step of these syntheses is palladium(II)-catalyzed oxycarbonylation of unsaturated triols with d-lyxo and d-xylo configuration, respectively, which allowed efficient construction of the tetrahydrofuran ring with excellent threo-selectivity at the newly formed stereogenic centre.