Torsional steering controls the stereoselectivity of epoxidation in the guanacastepene a synthesis.

[reaction: see text] The stereoselectivity of the key epoxidation step in the synthesis of guanacastepene A is shown to be controlled by torsional steering. In this particular epoxidation reaction, the transition structure energetic difference is enhanced by the great asynchronicity of the forming C-O bonds that intensifies the torsional interactions.