Biomimetic synthesis of acid-sensitive (-)-caparrapi oxide and (+)-8-epicaparrapi oxide induced by artificial cyclases.

[reaction: see text] Asymmetric total syntheses of acid-sensitive (-)-caparrapi oxide (1) and (+)-8-epicaparrapi oxide (2) from farnesol (9) were achieved using Sharpless-Katsuki epoxidation and Lewis acid-assisted chiral Bronsted acid (chiral LBA)-induced polyene cyclization as key steps. Furthermore, (-)-1 could be directly synthesized from (S)-nerolidol (3) and (R)-LBA with 88% ds by reagent control which overcame substrate control, while (-)-2 was obtained from (R)-3 and (R)-LBA with >99% ds by the double-asymmetric induction.