Goyazensolide, a biologically active natural product classified as a furohe
liangolide, was transformed in a phthalimide derivative that showed an enha
nced biological activity against Tripanosoma cruzi. The complex natural pro
duct was also reduced with high stereoselectivity by hydrogen/Wilkinson's c
atalyst; an epimer of this product was obtained in the reduction with hydro
gen/Pd-C.