A formal total synthesis of (+/-)-neplanocin A.

Stereoselective formal synthesis of (+/-)-neplanocin A from a cyclopentane derivative employing an elegant strategy involving reiterative usage of an already existing acetonide protecting group is reported. The acetonide protecting group that is carried forward intact right from the starting adduct to an advanced intermediate is shuffled around twice as in a "relay race" through the synthetic sequence, thus avoiding unnecessary employment of additional protecting groups.