The practical enantioselective syntheses of decursinol angelate and decursi
n were achieved in eight steps from resorcinol. The stereochemistry was add
ressed using the catalytic asymmetric epoxidation of 7-acetoxy-2,2-dimethyl
chromene by chiral (salen)Mn complexes as the key step. (C) 2001 Elsevier S
cience Ltd. All rights reserved.