Enantioselective syntheses of 3,4,5-trisubstituted γ-lactones: formal synthesis of (−)-blastmycinolactol

A kinetic resolution process of Rh-catalyzed intramolecular Alder-ene reaction is described along with the studies of the substrate scope and stereochemistry of this remarkably efficient process. 3,4,5-Trisubstituted γ-lactones were synthesized in high enantioselectivity (>99% ee) and efficiency. The formal asymmetric syntheses of (−)-blastmycinolactol and (+)-blastmycinone, degradation products of the macrocyclic dilactone (+)-antimycin, were reported to address the applications of this methodology.