The total synthesis of (-)-7-deoxyloganin via N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed rearrangement of α,β-unsaturated enol esters.

The diastereoselective N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed rearrangement of α,β-unsaturated enol ester (S)-2b has been used to assemble dihydropyranone (S)-3b, a material embodying the bicyclic core of the iridoid family of natural products. Elaboration of this intermediate, by chemoselective reduction followed by stereoselective β-glycosylation, has allowed the total synthesis of (-)-7-deoxyloganin (1) to be achieved in four subsequent steps.