Total synthesis of (+)-muconin.

(+)-Muconin (1), isolated from the leaves of Rollinia mucosa (Jacq.) Baill. (Annonaceae), is a sequential THF/THP-possessing acetogenin that exhibits potent and selective in vitro cytotoxicity toward pancreatic and breast tumor cell lines. In this study, a new route was established for obtaining (+)-muconin (1) starting with (-)-muricatacin (2), a compound recently synthesized via the novel alpha-C-H hydroxyalkylation and alpha'-C-H oxidation of tetrahydrofuran.