Studies toward the synthesis of pinolidoxin, a phytotoxic nonenolide from the fungus Ascochyta pinodes. Determination of the configuration at the C-7, C-8, and C-9 chiral centers and stereoselective synthesis of the C(6)-C(18) fragment.

The absolute stereochemistry at the C-7, C-8, and C-9 chiral centers of pinolidoxin (1) has been determined by chemical and spectral methods. First, the synthesis of four stereoisomeric fully benzoylated 2,3-erythro-1,2,3,4-heptanetetrols, corresponding to the C(6)-C(18) portion of the natural substance, has been accomplished starting from meso-tartaric acid. As next step, the selection of the synthetic tetrabenzoate possessing "natural" stereochemistry (10a'), suitable for absolute configuration determination, has been carried out by correlation with its "natural" homologue derived from degradation of pinolidoxin. Determination of the stereochemistry at the title chiral centers has been carried out by application of the Mosher's method both to 7a', a compound stereochemically related to 10a', and to pinolidoxin itself. The stereoselective synthesis of a protected form of the C(6)-C(18) portion of pinolidoxin, to be used in its total synthesis, has also been accomplished starting from commercially available D-erythronolactone.