New stereoselective route to the epoxyquinol core of manumycin-type natural products. Synthesis of enantiopure (+)-bromoxone, (-)-LL-C10037 alpha, and (+)-KT 8110.

A practical route is decribed for the preparation of the C(7)N core of manumycin-type compounds. Starting from p-benzoquinone, optically pure compounds in both forms can be prepared via enzymatic resolution of a derived diacetoxy conduritol. A diepoxy aminoinositol is accessible which can function for formation of enantiopure epoxyquinones and quinols. Examples are given for acylation reactions of this amine with several acyl derivatives. With this approach (-)-LL-C10037alpha and quinones such as (+)-KT-8110 with 5R,6S-configuration can be synthesized through oxidation. In addition a short route to (+)-bromoxone is described. Most steps include simple epoxide formation and cleavage reactions which all can be carried out in a high stereoselective manner.