A concise synthetic approach to beta,gamma-dehydrocurvularin: synthesis of (+/-)-di-O-methyl-beta,gamma-dehydrocurvularin.

A concise synthesis of di-O-methyl-beta,gamma-dehydrocurvularin, the di-O-methylated derivative of the naturally occurring nematicidal macrolide, beta,gamma-dehydrocurvuralin, was accomplished by starting from a commercially available aromatic carboxylic acid in a three-step sequence consisting of esterification, Friedel-Crafts acylation, and microwave-promoted ring-closing metathesis.