Synthesis of the carbocyclic skeleton of abyssomicins C and D.

[reaction: see text] Intramolecular Diels-Alder substrate trienyl methylenebutenolide 5 was prepared in six steps by coupling 3-methoxy-4-methylenebutenolide (6) with trienone keto aldehyde 7. Heating 5 in CHCl(3) for 2 d at 70 degrees C afforded 80% of a single Diels-Alder adduct 4 with the complete carbon skeleton of abyssomicin C. Addition of thiophenoxide to the enone double bond of 4 followed by an intramolecular Michael addition afforded 15 with the abyssomicin D carbon skeleton.