Concise total synthesis of (+)-brefeldin A: a combined beta-lactone/cross-metathesis-based strategy.

[reaction: see text] A highly convergent total synthesis of (+)-brefeldin A that relies on a diastereoselective, beta-lactone-based cyclopentane synthesis combined with complex cross-metathesis reactions is described. The utility of beta-lactones for natural product synthesis and the versatility of cross-metathesis in this context were demonstrated, including the tolerance of an epimerizable aldehyde and a beta-lactone.