The first total synthesis of erythroskyrine, a polyenoyl-tetramic acid myco
toxin and principal pigment of Penicillium Islandicum Sopp., is described u
sing a palladium(II) catalysed oxycarbonylation to create the furan-derived
bicyclic portion 3 and the phosphonate ester 5 to furnish both the polyeno
yl chain and the N-methyl (S)-valine derived tetramic acid terminus.