Straightforward synthesis of panaxytriol: an active component of Red Ginseng.

A total synthesis of (3R,9R,10R)-panaxytriol (1) was accomplished enantioselectively (40% overall yield; 30% for the longest sequence). A key step was a Cadiot-Chodkiewicz cross-coupling reaction on two fragments containing, in the aggregate, three unprotected hydroxyl groups. One fragment was synthesized by a highly enantioselective reduction of an enynone. The other arose from a highly enantioselective dihydroxylation of an allylic alcohol.