Synthesis of the key intermediate (5) of Antillatoxin (1) is presented
. The synthesis is based on the indium-mediated allylation of 2,4,6,6-
tetramethyl-2,4-heptadienal (3) and methyl (2)-2-(bromomethyl)-2-buten
oate (4) in saturated ammonium chloride catalyzed by lanthanide trifla
te which afforded the corresponding product 2 in good yield and high s
yn selectivity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.