Convergent and enantioselective total synthesis of (−)-nalanthalide, a potential Kv1.3 blocking immunosuppressant

The first total synthesis of (−)-nalanthalide (1), a novel blocker of the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 from a microorganism, was accomplished in a convergent manner by utilizing coupling reaction of the trans-decalin 5 with 3-lithio-γ-pyrone 4. The key intermediate 5 was efficiently prepared from the known trans-decalone 7 through a [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement of the stannylmethyl ether 6 to install the stereogenic center at C9 and the exo-methylene function at C8.