Medium ring ethers by ring expansion-ring contraction: synthesis of lauthisan.

[reaction: see text] A new general method for the construction of medium ring ethers has been developed. This involves the ring expansion of halo-O,S-acetals followed by a Ramburg-Bäcklund ring contraction reaction with concomitant extrusion of the sulfur atom. This methodology has been utilized for the synthesis of cis- and trans-lauthisan.