Systematic synthesis of Bis-THF ring cores in annonaceous acetogenins.

Systematic synthesis of bis-THF ring cores, synthetic intermediates of adjacent bis-THF annonaceous acetogenins, has been achieved by asymmetric alkynylation and subsequent stereodivergent THF ring formation. The asymmetric alkynylation of alpha-tetrahydrofuranic aldehyde with (S)-3-butyne-1,2-diol derivatives gave good yields of erythro- and threo-adducts with very high diastereoselectivity. These adducts were converted into four types of bis-THF cores via two kinds of one-pot THF ring formation. [reaction: see text]