STEREOSELECTIVE SYNTHESIS OF A KEY PRECURSOR OF HALICHOLACTONE AND NEOHALICHOLACTONE

An efficient synthesis of a known precursor of halicholactone (1a) and neohalicholactone (1b) has been developed using the strategically fun ctionalized key cyclopropane intermediate 2, which in turn has been sy nthesized via stereoselective cyclopropanation of trans-cinnamyl alcoh ol in the presence of the chiral dioxaborolane ligand 4. Elaboration o f the above bifunctional cyclopropane to the target molecule was achie ved in a relatively short reaction sequence and in good overall yield, representing a formal synthesis of the title compounds.