Cj. Moody et al., USE OF DIAZOPHOSPHONATES IN THE SYNTHESIS OF CYCLIC ETHERS .2. SYNTHESIS OF THE PYRANOOXEPANE AND OXEPANOOXEPANE SUBUNITS OF MARINE POLYETHER TOXINS, Journal of the Chemical Society. Perkin transactions. I, (5), 1994, pp. 501-506
3-Oxooxepan-2-ylphosphonates 3, prepared by rhodium carbenoid cyclisat
ion of the diazophosphonates 1, are readily elaborated into the keto a
lcohols 6, by Wadsworth-Emmons reaction, hydrogenation and epimerisati
on. Cyclisation of 6 using trimethylsilyl triflate-triethylsilane resu
lts in formation of 7-6- and 7-7-bicyclic ethers 10, with trans select
ivity.