Asymmetric total syntheses of (+)-3-(z)-laureatin and (+)-3-(z)-isolaureatin by "lone pair-lone pair interaction-controlled" isomerization.

The first asymmetric total syntheses of the dihalogenated medium-sized dioxabicyclic marine natural products (+)-3-(Z)-isolaureatin (1) and (+)-3-(Z)-laureatin (2) have been accomplished. Notable features of the highly stereo-, regio-, and chemoselective syntheses of these alpha,alpha'-trans-oxocene natural products include an intramolecular amide enolate alkylation to construct the alpha,alpha'-cis-oxocene, novel "lone pair-lone pair interaction-controlled" epimerizations to the alpha,alpha'-trans-oxocenes, various strategies for stereoselective introduction of halogen atoms, and novel olefin cross-metatheses for construction of the (Z)-enyne systems.